The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MINING companies – small to medium-scale as well as listed entities – have been called on to scale up engagement initiatives with their local communities and build a win-win situation before endearing themselves to any other stakeholder.
The call was made during a Manicaland provincial mining indaba that was hosted in Mutare on today (Wednesday) by the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association (ZELA).
The Manicaland provincial mining indaba is a platform for different Government departments, community-based organisations (CBOs), civic society organisations (CSOs), individuals, activists and mining companies meant to deliberate on issues related to the mining industry.
In an interview on the sidelines of the event, ZELA deputy director Shamiso Mtisi said: “Participants have been discussing how mining has affected communities positively and negatively. We all know how mining is a major economic contributor nationally and at community level but there are spill off impacts to local communities.
“So that has been the main message here, that mining should contribute to community development through building of schools, clinics and other social amenities.
“We have also seen miners being urged to engage with locals before engaging anyone else. This meeting has been beneficial to both the miners and the communities represented here,” he said.
Speaking during the same event, Anjin Mine public relations officer Mr Special Matarirano outlined how his company has transformed, since its return to Chiadzwa area, into an environment friendly and employee rights cogniscent corporate citizen.
