MARTIN MAWAYA
Shurugwi – Traditional leaders in Shurugwi district have expressed outrage over the plundering of mineral resources by foreign investors, while local communities remain mired in abject poverty.
Speaking to a joint parliamentary committee, Chief Nhema criticized the archaic Mines Act, which he said has enabled the exploitation of resources in the mining town without adequate benefits for the local population.
He explained that most foreign investors are not fulfilling their corporate social responsibility obligations, as there is no law compelling them to give back to the community.
Chief Nhema further lamented the impact of the removal of the 49/50 percent share ownership requirement, which he said has left communities vulnerable to the unchecked extraction of their natural resources.
He said the amendment of the Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act and delays in enacting new economic empowerment act has left the mining district vulnerable to plunder by uncouth investors.
He noted that companies like Unki Mines, which previously supported community development through a share ownership trust, have now withdrawn after the changes to the act.
“The removal of the 49/50 percent share on ownership has left the communities vulnerable and has impacted negatively in the development of the district. The companies such as Unki mines who were supporting the communities through the community share ownership trust has folded hands and held back their resources ,” explained chief Nhema.
The Chief criticized the Mines Ministry’s unequal distribution of mining claims, suggesting that the 1 700 claims supposedly given to women may not be genuinely benefiting them.
Chief Banga, who served as the Shurugwi district treasurer for the Community Share Ownership Trust (CSOTs), added that projects initiated through the trust, such as clinics, community gardens, and school construction, have stalled due to the withdrawal of mining company support.
The chiefs’ concerns echo the sentiments of Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Owen Ncube, who recently criticized the unsustainable mining practices by some companies, calling for greater compliance with land reclamation and environmental protection measures.
Meanwhile, the cabinet has approved a proposal to revive, operationalize, and strengthen the CSOTs through a robust policy and regulatory framework, in an effort to ensure that local communities benefit from the natural resources within their mining areas.
