Online Reporter
Stephen Mpofu, [email protected]
THE heading above deals specifically with measures that the Government has taken to stop the exploitation of our rich mineral resources by foreigners in order to beneficiate us Zimbabweans with our God-endowed mineral wealth.
Some people in Government as well as in civic society no doubt agree or disagree at the timing of the ban of the mineral exports with some obviously believing the measure had come at the right time while others contend that the exploitation of our minerals by foreigners should never have been allowed to take place after we gained control of our motherland in 1980 from imperialist rulers.
The imposition of illegal economic sanctions by Western imperialists in response to Zimbabwe’s introduction of the land reform programme must have been intended to preserve the rich mineral resources which the advanced technological eyes of the colonisers had long fathomed in the belly of our motherland for continued exploitation when the joys of freedom and independence sent us, Zimbabweans to sleep as if our mineral endowments were free for all to munch in the global village.
But the truth is that with land reform, Zimbabweans did not only want to preserve the top soil for our food crops such as maize, sorghum, rapoko, rice et cetera.
Mineral riches are regarded by our Government as potential drivers of our economic development and growth, which is why we celebrate our young heroes and heroines, young men and women who bore the gun and paid the ultimate price while fighting for the liberation of the motherland along with those alive today and active in our Government of the people by the people for the people.
The following example of the deprivation of our people of their mineral heritage should go a long way in supporting and strengthening the Government’s hand regarding the ban on lithium exports which, like other minerals, must benefit Zimbabweans, before other people, as our God given.
After independence Zimbabweans celebrated the discovery of emeralds — a green beryl gemstone, coloured by trace chromium and vadium, and a classic choice for rings and necklaces — in Mberengwa West.
But no sooner had people become aware of that mineral endowment than foreigners from beyond many waters descended on the scene under the guise of friendly ties with Zimbabweans and carted off the mineral endowments, leaving behind outcries about a lack of beneficiation from the minerals in the form of schools, better roads or health facilities for the community in which the mineral was discovered.
The Mberengwa West and other examples of depravations of benefit from our countries’ mineral wealth certainly justify our Governments ban of exports of minerals to enrich foreigners at the expense of our own people.
Which in this pen’s humble opinion compels our Government to look at all minerals to ensure that beneficiation of Zimbabweans should take priority before exports.
Which suggests that because of Zimbabwe’s acclaimed academic excellence our people must be endowed with appropriate skills to subject every export under scrutiny to ensure that Zimbabweans benefit first before the exports swell foreign bellies.
