SHOCKING revelations have emerged that all concessions and mining rights in Hwange were taken by non-residents amid outrage that the government through its mining empowerment programme is deliberately marginalising locals.
Government has said it is actively working to empower women and youth in the mining sector through various policy initiatives and programmes, focusing on increasing their participation in mining activities, providing access to finance, training and ensuring their representation in decision-making processes.
This includes initiatives to improve access to loans and other forms of financial assistance, particularly for artisanal and small-scale miners, training programmes are being implemented to equip women and youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to participate effectively in the mining sector, including technical roles and business management.
However, Hwange East Legislator Joseph Bonda expressed concern that facts on the ground indicated that the government was not devolving its programme to benefit locals in Hwange.
“All concessions and mining rights are taken by non-residents. I got the list of youth provided by the minister who are not even from the region who took concessions and hold mining rights in Hwange,” Bonda said.
The list has 17 youth but none from the district.
According to government three Hwange residents hold mining rights and concessions in the area with the listed minerals — lithium, shale, tungsten, copper, fluorite, coal and granite.
The development has sparked outrage in Matabeleland with various activists raising concern that what has been exposed in Hwange is just a tip of an iceberg.
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Matabeleland North-based development practitioner and Rural Community Empowerment Trust vice-chairperson Thembelani Dube argued that Chapter 14 of Zimbabwean’s Constitution put emphasis on devolution which is meant to prioritise local communities.
“Indigenous people of a particular ecosystem must be prioritised and be the ones who benefit from local natural resources as well as opportunities that arise in those micro and macro ecosystems,” he said.
Greater Hwange Residents Trust co-ordinator Fidelis Chima said the government should “revamp the community share ownership scheme and ensure that local communities get shares through that”.
Freedom Alliance spokesperson Prince Ncube accused the government of failing to fully implement devolution of power.
“The exclusion of people from Hwange is deliberate and calculated to impoverish them while outsiders dominate them economically and politically. Outsiders are less likely to plough back to the community whose resources are exploited and depleted,” he said.
Zapu Bulawayo secretary Vivian Siziba said the involvement of locals in economic activities resonated well with the concept of devolution.
“People would be forgiven for concluding that these opportunities are available to either party cadres or cronies,” he said.
Nkayi Community Parliament Speaker Nhlanhla Moses Ncube said the exclusion of locals was a result of deep-rooted tribalism.
Mines and Mining Development deputy minister Polite Kambamura recently revealed that 17 youth and three women were involved in mining concessions in Hwange as per government policy.
“There are three women and 17 youths who are shareholders in the mines. I have a whole list of names. A total of three Hwange residents hold mining rights and concessions in Hwange district. These are Murowe, Sunrise Chilota Mining and Makomwe Transport and Hardware,” he said.
Government recently indicated that it was implementing the Cadastre system to streamline the process of acquiring mining rights and resolve disputes.
