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‘Archaic’ laws to blame for conflicts in mining areas

by Bustop TV News

By Romeo Takundwa

Hwange Central Constituency Legislator Daniel Molokele has blamed “archaic” laws and various Statutory Instruments as the chief drivers of conflicts and other natural resources governance problems arising in mining communities throughout the country.

Communities rich in mineral resource in Zimbabwe suffer from mining-induced irregular displacements, degradation of their lands and environment, loss of life and livestock to deep open pits left by mining operations, and loss of communal land and natural resources.  

Addressing fellow legislators and Hwange locals at a meeting organised by Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) on Thursday last week, Molokele highlighted the need to constantly monitor Statutory Instruments (S.I) which are being used to circumvent Parliament procedures and to prioritize locals on stakeholder consultations.

“Local communities need to be informed and adequately capacitated and consulted with regards to any mining ventures. This will enable them to decide from an informed point of view. The Environmental Impact Assessment legislative framework has serious gaps. The response by the Portfolio Committee on Environment, Climate and Tourism on Dinde Community Petition made that clear. We hope by 31st December 2021, the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry would have amended the Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27).

“It is important to clearly spell out standards to be followed especially on stakeholder consultations as recommended by the Committee. More importantly, the long-awaited overhaul of the archaic Mines and Minerals Act should be finalised. Conflicts and other natural resources governance problems are arising because we are still using an archaic law,” said Molokele.

Speaking on the same occasion, Magwegwe Constituency MP Honorable Anele Ndebele acknowledged ZELA’s empowerment drive, a process that has enabled us to identify factors hampering transparency and accountability and how these challenges can be addressed through parliamentary processes.

“You know, there are some irresponsible Chinese investors who have become a law unto themselves. Their actions are quite unsettling. Through such engagement platforms we are now empowered on how we can tackle some of these issues. We need to put in place adequate measures to promote a conducive environment that decisively discourages any form of investment model that does not promote sustainable development,” said Ndebele. 

Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Parliament Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development, Honorable Edmond Mkaratigwa expressed satisfaction over the (ZELA)’s move to capacitate and support Members of Parliament to effectively engage their constituencies and draft motions on mining related governance issues.

MPs that have been trained so far include Hon. Cecil Kashiri, Hon. Trevor Saruwaka, Hon. Anele Ndebele, Hon. Daniel Molokele and Hon. Edmond Mkaratigwa.

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