The recently held Provincial Alternative Mining Indaba (PAMI) (Manicaland) raised recurring calls for a sustainable community benefit-sharing scheme that ensures that the extraction of minerals drives inclusive development.
Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) co-hosted the multistakeholder conference together with the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA), Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC).
In an interview with the WEEKLY on the sidelines Ndaizivei Garura of CNRG said the benefit sharing scheme should be modelled around incorporating youths in the mining value chain for sustainability.
Garura said the declaration of provincial priorities at the local level to encapsulate concerns of mining communities, companies, and stakeholders, feeds into national and regional perspectives on how communities should benefit from mining.
“Youth inclusion should be based on tangible benefits for the young people, focusing on engagement, decision-making on matters that concern them, and budget formulation. Let us be rational about issues that deal with young women the same way that we do with women and other key populations that face vulnerabilities.
“Young people’s role in development should be highlighted and the roles that they play should be strategically placed at all structures of society for a sustainable planning model for future generations.
“Our declarations should speak clearly about youth, with a clear focus across all levels of development, we need to make it normal for youths to occupy key positions to drive economic development,” she said.
Josephat Makaza, from the Chiadzwa community, said the provincial dialogue on mining, policies, and how mining can promote broad economic development in the province was an opportunity to reflect on how mining is affecting communities.
He said the distribution of natural resources has been blighted with challenges, caused by a lack of transparency and accountability to the disadvantage of local communities and youths.
“Local communities living near mining sites do not receive requisite compensation, triggering conflicts over access to shared resources and infrastructure. We expect mining companies also to incubate and train young leaders and technocrats,” he said.
The PAMI declarations feed into the Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba (ZAMI) which precursors the regional African Alternative Mining Indaba (AMI) an annual gathering of communities impacted by mining, civil society organizations, and faith-based groups worldwide.
AMI was set up due to the historical exclusion of civil society from (Industry) African Mining Indaba and reveals the often-catastrophic human and environmental impacts of the mining industry.
Local decentralized versions have been set up, cascading down to Ward and District platforms set to deliberate on the bane of the multi-billion-dollar industry on community, environment, and socio-economic development in Africa.
Participants also made declarations calling for the review of the Mines and Mineral Bill as well as the fast-tracking of the adoption of responsible mining practices, enforcement, and compliance with environmental legislation.