ONLY three Hwange residents have mining rights in the coal mining district of Matabeleland North amid concerns that locals were being systematically shut out from mining opportunities.
It also emerged that only three women and 17 youth have some form of shareholding in mining companies in the district.
The statistics were revealed by Mines and Mining Development deputy minister Polite Kambamura, while responding to questions by Hwange East legislator Joseph Bonda in Parliament last week.
“May the Mines and Mining Development minister update the House on the statistics of women and youth from Hwange District who are benefitting as shareholders in mines and the number of Hwange residents holding mining rights and concessions in Hwange District,” Bonda asked.
In response to the question, Kambamura said very few locals have some form of shareholding.
“There are three women and 17 youths who are shareholders in the mines,” he said.
“I have a whole list of names. I will submit the list of names.”
On the number of residents holding mining rights in Hwange Kambamura said: “A total of three Hwange residents hold mining rights and concessions in the Hwange District.”
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“These are Murowe, Sunrise Chilota Mining and Makomwe Transport and Hardware,” he added.
There have been concerns from local residents that locals were being shutout from mining opportunities in favour of outsiders.
The deputy minister said the government is working on legislative reforms, including the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, to address issues such as gender inequality in asset ownership and access to mining licenses.
Government has also revealed plans to implement the Cadastre system to streamline the process of acquiring mining rights and resolve disputes.
The government has said it is also prioritizing the provision of financial resources and capacity building programmes to support women and youth in mining.
The National Youth Policy, which runs from 2020 to 2025, outlines strategic interventions for youth development, including their involvement in national development initiatives like mining.
Indications are that the government is promoting community share ownership schemes to ensure that communities, including women and youth, benefit from the exploitation of natural resources in their areas.
This includes initiatives to improve access to loans and other forms of financial assistance, particularly for artisanal and small-scale miners among others.
