Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu,[email protected]
The community of Gwanda is set to benefit from a programme aimed at reducing the negative effects of mining on local populations.
Speaking after an inception meeting in Gwanda, Oluntu Community Foundation programmes coordinator, Mr Dylan Khanye, explained that the initiative will focus on both artisanal and large-scale mines.
The project, titled “Harnessing the effects of adverse impacts of mining on the indigenous and local communities and transition to a just energy,” targets 200 households across two wards in rural Gwanda. This one-year programme will run until June next year and is funded by the South African Trust.
“We were unpacking our programme to relevant stakeholders that we will be working with. The project will address the effects of mining on the communities. These effects include displacement of people, land degradation, violation of human rights and even loss of life due to mining activities.
“We want to bring the mining companies and communities together so that we come up with solutions to all the effects that are brought by mining activities to the communities, especially women. We now have a lot of women taking up space in the mining sector and some of them are being abused,” he said.
Mr Khanye also highlighted that communities suffer from emissions generated by mining operations, with women and children being particularly vulnerable. The intervention aims to mitigate these impacts and explore ways mining companies can contribute positively to the communities. It will also examine employment quotas for locals and support for community economic activities.
“Activities that we will conduct during implementation of the programme include campaigns that will be initiated by communities, climate friendly projects among others,” he added.
