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COAL mining companies in Hwange have been urged to honour their pledges to contribute towards the operationalisation of the Hwange Community Share Ownership Trust launched by President Mugabe in 2010.Addressing the coal mining companies, traditional leaders and the Zanu-PF Matabeleland North leadership last Thursday, Mines and Mining Development Minister Cde Walter Chidakwa said the companies were supposed to work together in ensuring that the trust was funded to support developmental projects.
“I have been in constant discussions with my colleague in the ministry that deals with this matter, Cde Francis Nhema, on the issue of the Hwange Trust which should be operational by now.
“We as a ministry believe that investment must be useful to the people around the area of operation and we will insist that it is so. I now urge you as major players in the development of the communities you operate in to honour your pledges.
“Your lack of commitment has not only affected the development of this district but is also tarnishing the image of the President who launched the trust,” Cde Chidakwa said.
He urged the companies to take a collective approach in ensuring that the initial start up of $1 million was deposited into the trust by embarking on various projects aimed at fundraising.
The chiefs who were present at the meeting said they were constantly under fire from their subjects who accused them of diverting the trust funds to their own benefit.
“This issue of the Community Share Ownership is giving us sleepless nights we are tired of being asked about the money which is not there and when we try to inquire from the companies we don’t get satisfactory answers.
“Your intervention minister in ensuring the fund is operational is needed so that our people can also benefit from the natural resources found in the areas. People want health facilities and economic empowerment but without the money it’s difficult to do such things, our district hospital is yet to be completed and if the companies were to honour their pledges, work would be finished and people could access the hospital easily,” said Chief Shana, amid ululations from the party members.
Meanwhile, the minister called on the companies to work together towards the development of the town instead of running different programmes that would benefit a few, arguing that joint efforts would contribute positively towards institutions such as clinics and schools.
“We don’t appreciate investors who make money and build houses in other areas, leaving the children of the area they operate in suffering. Let’s become acceptable to the environment we are operating in. I want to hear that you are working together on the corporate social responsibility with everybody playing a part, create committees to manage the partnership. Let’s compete on the market yes but let’s also co-operate with an attitude to build by coming up with joint programmes that help contribute towards practical institutions such as clinics,” he added.
He took a swipe at the new players in coal production saying that they were acting like ticks which were sucking Hwange Colliery Company dry by demanding water and accommodation while contributing less to the maintenance of the environment.
“New mining companies are like ticks who want to use resources that were created for Hwange Colliery. They are getting water, accommodation and even using some of its infrastructure like roads while contributing nothing towards assisting in the maintenance and development of the town,” he said.
Bongani Ndlovu