THE Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (Zela) has challenged the government to come up with a comprehensive law governing the mining industry which compels companies to plough back to the communities where they mine.
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Speaking at a dialogue meeting on extractive sector issues in Zimbabwe with communities surrounding diamond mining areas in Mutare last week, Zela chairman Professor Tumai Murombo said it should be made mandatory to make investors in the mining industry responsive to the needs of the community.
The organisation is currently conducting a research titled, Assessment of the Effectiveness of Initiatives to Promote Good Governance, Public Accountability and Transparency in the Natural Resources Sector with a Particular Focus on Mining.
“The initial findings are that Zimbabwe’s legal, policy and institutional framework governing the mining sector does not effectively promote good governance, transparency and accountability,” said Murombo.
“This view is shared by all the stakeholders ranging from immediate communities, Members of Parliament and some of the companies themselves.
“There is a lot of secrecy on the contracts signed between the government and the mining companies and, as such, we don’t know what the companies are expected to do in terms of social corporate responsibility. We need a law which is specific on this issue.”
At the meeting, Chiadzwa residents said they were being forced to pay $3 per household meant for rehabilitating a local health centre, Mukwada Clinic.
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“We are sitting on the richest land in the country, but our diamonds are not benefiting us. Why not compel the diamond mining companies to help us build this clinic? People don’t have money and it’s generally not fair to us,” said Lovemore Mukwada.
Chiadzwa Community Development Trust programmes officer Melanie Chiponda said the government should seriously look into the plight at the Chiadzwa people.
