By Malvern Mkudu
Community groups gathered at the Jameson Hotel in Harare last week on Thursday for a roundtable discussion under the theme ‘extractive industries in Zimbabwe- are communalities benefitting’ organised by the Media Centre.
Often communities bear the brunt of mining activities. Their livelihoods are disrupted as they are forced to relocate to other areas. Chiadzwa communities who were used to a rural set up were forced off their land and moved to Arda where they got smaller land and now have to pay for use of water to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority.
Five schools were demolished in the area so as to make way for mining companies but only one was replaced. Ever since mining operations
started in Chiadzwa, the area has had the lowest pass rate in the province according to Lorraine Marima of the Chiadzwa Community Development Trust.
She blames this on the demolition of these schools. The community share trusts have been a total failure because the politicians who are supposed to be ensuring that companies comply are also directors in these same companies nothing has worked.
‘Noone stands up for the communities because those tasked to do so have vested interest.’ She said. A way must be found to ensure that politicians stay out of mining or their actions are regulated.
Mr Mamadou Touray of AFRODAD sympathised with the government. African governments do not have the expertise to determine the value of minerals they have in their countries.
Mining companies use transfer pricing and double accounting systems making it possible for African governments to know what exactly is
realised.
He however equally blamed African governments for poor contract negotiation skills when negotiating mining contracts with investors.
Honourable Obedingwa Mguni representing the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on mining blamed archaic colonial laws for the situation communities
find themselves in.
The Precious stones and minerals act for example places unnecessary hurdles onto ordinary people who want to do mining. The colonial land laws that disempowered communities makes it easy for mining companies to arm-twist communities and negotiate unfair deals.
He said the committee had heard cases of corruption in mining and they were trying their best to attend to these.
Community groups were urged to work closely with the parliamentary portfolio committee to expose any issues of corruption
In closing, the gathering agreed that the Environmental Management Authority has let down communities. Many communities levelled
allegations of corruption against the environment agency accusing it of siding with rich mining companies.
EMA was urged to review its fines against offenders. Many called for an independent environment agency as they felt EMA was controlled by
the same politicians who were also guilty of environmental degradation.
