daniel chigunwe
Engineering and Construction Matters
With Innocent Chatikobo
Industry and the community are interconnected and interdependent. For industry to prosper, be it primary; secondary or tertiary, there has to be a mutual understanding and rapport between industry and the surrounding community.
The relation has to be symbiotic. Industry can have a significant impact on the community and vice versa.
The community helps industry to operate the way they intend to and as per their goals and objectives while industry can help to improve lives of the community.
Some of the expected benefits that industry and the community can enjoy by correlation to each other are as outlined below.
What the community can offer to industry:
i. It offers space and ground within which industry operates.
ii. It offers labour (both skilled and unskilled workforce) for the industry force.
iii. It provides some raw materials needed in industry
iv. In mining industry, locals can also help in locating of mineral resources e.g. in Chiadzwa.
v. Can provide their resources eg water sources for the benefit of industry.
vi. Demand and consumption of products and services.
vii. Local regulations and policy framework.
viii. Public perception and reputation building.
What industry can offer to the community
Betterment of standards of living through employing those in the community
Building schools, clinics, roads and other infrastructure for the benefit of the community and urbanisation
Some can assist in economic activity e.g. help in improved farming methods as a way of ploughing back to the community hence economic growth
Social responsibility initiatives and such as sponsorship of sporting activities e.g. mines sponsoring soccer teams
Helping of the underprivileged and the poor e.g. some companies offering scholarships like Econet; some helping in food relief while others help the disabled
Improved trading since a new market will have been opened for locals to sell their goods e.g. those industries who are into post harvest processing
A healthy relationship between industry and the community is crucial for the following:
Sustainable development
Social licence to operate
Long term success and growth
Mutual benefit and prosperity
Between industry and the community, there can also exist a very bad relationship in their operations. To some, industrialisation comes as a blessing while to others it comes with its own disadvantages.
Relocations : where there is need for industrial development, the community then finds itself being forced to relocate to some other places to pave way for industry.
Industry brings in pollution of the atmosphere and water bodies through emissions during production.
Industries can come and violate cultural practices of local communities leading to perennial clashes with local leaders.
Some industry can overlook local labour force and import from other areas this will not have bettered the lives of the community.
On the other hand community can vandalise and steal industry infrastructure hence drawing back industrial development.
Industrialisation can lead to a rise in crime rate and prostitution.
Collaboration and engagement are essential for building trust , addressing concerns, and creating value for both industry and the community
(This article is an extract from a yet to be published book by the columnist)
Innocent Chatikobo is an Engineer by profession with AtroServe Engineering Zimbabwe. He has extensive knowledge and experience in Structural Engineering and Construction. For your comments, views, questions and feedback he can be contacted on the following platforms Cell: +263 777 950 224; +263 712 376 037; +263 782 502 732 Email: [email protected] :Like the Facebook page: AtroServe Engineering Zimbabwe; Follow the Whatsapp Channel: AtroServe Engineering Zimbabwe
Bongani Ndlovu