adminOliver Kazunga Senior Business Reporter
THE Chiefs’ Council president Fortune Charumbira yesterday blasted mining companies for not actively participating in economic empowerment programmes as stipulated in the indigenisation regulations. Speaking at the Mine Entra conference in Bulawayo, Chief Charumbira, who also sits in the Senate, said most mining companies were yet to fulfil their obligations under the Community Share Ownership Trusts (CSOT).
“In Zimbabwe, we’ve the CSOT. Some of you have done exceptionally well while others have done it poorly in terms of their contribution. For example, we’ve Renco Mine, Bikita Minerals in Masvingo who’ve done badly,” said Charumbira.
“At Renco Mine the road there is just a strip while there’re no other infrastructural development projects in the area. If you (mining companies) are determined and committed to economic empowerment programmes your social responsibility programmes such as the construction of schools should be extended to areas beyond the communities from which you operate.”
The chief said notable implementation of CSOT programmes was being experienced at Mhondoro-Ngezi where Zimplats was supporting the local communities through a number of infrastructure projects such as schools and clinics.
He said it was disheartening to note that some mining houses in the country still required the government to pass a law in order for them to participate in projects that seek to empower the locals.
He reiterated that the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act was promulgated to address the economic disparities that existed in the country before the attainment of Independence as a result of colonialism.
“It’s imperative now for the country to address the economic imbalances through CSOT. The government respects your mining investments. No-one can just come and say let’s have your investment but the reality is we need not remain as enclaves within a community. Let’s be part of the developmental agenda of a country,” said Charumbira.
He also challenged mining houses to become realistic about their operations rather than telling the communities about their losses, which an ordinary person would never understand.
“If your losses are genuine, as mining companies, you need to transform the internal psychological structure within the communities that you operate from. You need to be out there to change the way of thinking for people out there,” he said.
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