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Fairness Moyana in Hwange
HWANGE residents have called on the Government to create a legal framework that compels companies that operate in the area to honour their social corporate responsibility duties and help in developing local areas.
Speaking during a District Alternative Mining Indaba organised by Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (Zimcodd) in Hwange last week, residents said most companies were not ploughing back into the communities they operate from, but were looting resources to develop other areas.
Hwange District is rich in minerals and tourist attractions but most companies that operate in the areas are not involved on corporate social responsibility programmes.
“Companies, mostly those in the extractive sector such as mining, have continued to rip off communities of their natural resources by failing to plough back their profits. They make millions of dollars but do very little if anything for the communities in which they operate. I think there is a misconception among some companies to think that when they employ a few people they have done their part in terms of social corporate responsibility. The Government must come up with a legal framework that enforces the companies to plough back of profit to communities,” said Mr Luka Katako.
Another resident from Jambezi, Mr Athanasius Chitope said companies are supposed to be put to task over their non-compliance to social investments.
“As a community we are not benefiting anything from our natural resources such as coal and wildlife. We have limited number of clinics and the shortage of schools force our children to walk long distances which in the end affects pass rate. We have seen some companies going as far as donating bricks and building material towards the construction of a facility in Lupane while schools here are in deplorable states,” said Ms Tilda Ndlovu.
The district has over the years seen an influx of companies venturing into the extractive sector among them Zimbabwe Zhongxin Coking Company, South Mining, Hwange Coal Gasification Company, Makomo Resources, Gwayi Mine, Sandlage and Zambezi Gas.
Matabeleland North Minister of State Cde Richard Moyo has also, on various occasions, expressed concern over the same issue. HCCL is the only company that has maintained its social corporate responsibility role by providing accommodation, water, health and infrastructure, among others things, to the surrounding communities.
Participants also called for the resuscitation of Community Share Ownership Trusts (CSOTs) arguing that this could help in socially and economically empowering communities especially those in rural areas. Zimcodd southern region programmes officer, Mrs Florence Ndlovu said the aim of the indaba was to create a platform to discuss issues around natural resources utilisation.
“The main focus of the indaba was to create space for dialogue to reflect how natural resources in the district were also benefiting communities. This is where questions on whether communities are benefiting given the richness of the district are discussed,” she said.
Bongani Ndlovu