By Staff Writer
Silveira House says mining policies should promote good environmental stewardship so that communities resolve conflicts amicably and progressively.
The organization recently held a stakeholders roundtable dialogue with participants from mining hotspots in Mberengwa and Zvishavane to discuss issues of environmental, social, and cultural concerns emanating from mining-induced environmental challenges.
This is part of the organization’s Community Led Mining Advocacy and Governance project which promotes community participation as well as responsiveness, transparency, and accountability by mine actors.
Silveira House brought together government ministries, traditional leaders, miners and communities.
“We sought to promote social cohesion between the affected communities and mine actors. There are various conflicts such as miner to miner, farmer to miner conflicts, among others, with participants highlighting a gap in policies that regulate mining activities in communities,” said project coordinator Zandile Mvududu from Silveira House.
She added that legislation should be in line with the sociocultural context of the host mining communities and that traditional leaders and communities should be actively consulted and involved.
“A lot of social ills happen at mine sites which end up affecting children, women, and other groups hence the need to bring people together and see how we can resolve all these issues,” Mvududu said
Traditional leaders also lamented the social decay in communities as a result of mining activities, with Chief Bvute saying there is a need for collective action towards safeguarding moral values.
“Occurrences such as alcohol abuse, violence and even murder have become rampant in our communities. Young people need to be guided and educated so that they mine sustainably and take care of their responsibilities,” he said.
Community members from Mberengwa and Mazvihwa, especially women called for all responsible stakeholders to ensure social security and safe mining through ensuring proper registration of mines, including small-scale and artisanal miners.
Environmental monitors said they continue to educate communities about mine regulations and proper communication channels when there is an environmental violation.
Philomina Pfekenye from Mhototi under Chief Mazvihwa, and environmental monitors shared the following sentiments:
“We need to conduct exchange visits with environmental monitors from other communities so that we exchange information and map ways for the betterment of our communities.”
Mberengwa Ward 10 Councilor Divilius, Mashavakure who also chairs the environment committee in the council said such discussion platforms are progressive, and commended all stakeholders who attended and shared their concerns relating to mining and the environment.
“There’s a lot of environmental degradation caused by mining activities especially those of artisanal nature. What we can propose as the way forward is the reinforcement of laws and policies to ensure compliance,” Mashavakure said.