Online Reporter
THE 2025 Mining Engineering and Transport Expo (Mine Entra) which started on Wednesday and ends today, is running concurrently with the Africa Infrastructure and Built Environment Conference (AfriConfex).
The two expos are being held at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition and Conference Smart City (ZIECS) and have attracted hundreds of exhibitors and delegates from across the globe.
The players from both the mining sector and the infrastructure development are expected to take advantage of the two expos to establish new business, enhance networking, open new markets and adopt new innovations and technologies to boost production.
According to the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company, more than 240 exhibitors are participating at the expos which have attracted four countries which are China, India, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
We want to take this opportunity to remind the mining companies to take stock of their contributions in uplifting the livelihoods of communities they operate in.
When he officially opened last year’s edition of Mine Entra, President Mnangagwa implored mining companies to ensure that the exploitation of minerals directly benefits local communities who are the owners of the minerals.
President Mnangagwa said mining investments being witnessed across the country should improve the livelihoods of local communities. He said mining companies should contribute to infrastructure development such as building schools, clinics, roads, bridges and other such other infrastructure that positively impacts on the people’s welfare.
President Mnangagwa’s clarion call resonates with this year’s Mine Entra theme: “Beyond Extraction: Sustaining the Future of Mining”.
Zimbabwe has over the years witnessed huge investments in the mining sector which include the $1 billion Dinson Iron and Steel Company’s integrated Iron and Steel Plant near Mvuma in the Midlandsprovince, Muchesu Coking Coal Project in Binga, Matabeleland North province and Lithium mines which include Sabi Star Lithium Mine, Bikita Minerals, Arcadia Lithium Mine, Zulu Lithium Mine and Kamativi Lithium Mine.
These mines have been urged to ensure local communities directly benefit from the exploitation of their minerals by funding development projects.
We however, want to acknowledge the great works being done by big mining companies such as Unki Platinum Mine in Shurugwi, Mimosa Mining Company in Zvishavane and Zimplats near Chegutu to uplift the livelihoods of local communities.
These mining companies have built schools, clinics and in some cases established irrigation schemes for the communities and people are now enjoying the fruits of mining operations in their areas. It is a fact that new mining companies have also started ploughing back to local communities by funding development projects and this is as it should be.
President Mnangagwa is however saying more could be done by mining companies to improve the people’s welfare and we totally agree that there is room to do more.
Mining companies can only sustain the future of mining if they invest in infrastructural development like road construction in their respective areas. The communities, as already alluded to, should enjoy the benefits of exploitation of their natural resources such as minerals.
Mining companies should also take measures to protect the environment and where the damage has already been done, companies should foot the bill for the rehabilitation of the damaged environment.
