Shabanie Mine to empower youth…To give its tributaries to syndicates

Lovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent
SHABANIE Mashava Mines (SMM), the country’s sole asbestos miner, is set to give some of its tributaries to youth syndicates to extract the mineral as part of efforts to empower artisanal miners in the area.

The development follows the return of Mines and Mining Development Minister, Walter Chidhakwa from Iran where he had gone to search for a market for the mineral.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Midlands provincial mining indaba in Shurugwi, which is being organised by the Zimbabwe Environment Law Association (Zela), John Holder, the Zvishavane-Ngezi legislator said engagements with the company were already underway.

He said the move would also see former employees of the asbestos miners benefitting.

“We’ve already engaged the company for some time now and discussions are going on well. The only thing now is a few things we need to iron out. There are former employees who feel that they need to be part of this programme.

“We need to engage these people including women and the youth who can contribute meaningfully to such programmes as a way of empowering them,” said Holder.

He said as part of the agreement with SMM, small scale miners would only be given tributaries, which are not close to the mining plant as operations will resume as soon as an investor is found.

SMM, which used to employ about 5,000 workers, ceased operations in 2009 and still has a lifespan of over 50 years.

Meanwhile, Zela chairman, Professor Tumai Murombo said the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, which is set to be brought before Parliament, should legislate corporate social responsibility instead of it being a voluntary exercise.

Said Professor Murombo: “Some of the issues which we’re trying to push in terms of legal reforms are to enable the legal crafting of provisions that will make corporate social responsibility not just a voluntary feel good initiative but it must be something that mining companies should implement in the early stages of planning into their financial budgeting.

“They must include in the Bill issues like land rehabilitation where a Rehabilitation Fund is set up so that after the decommissioning of the mining activities, it’s not painful for the mining company to rehabilitate the land. It ensures that the land becomes usable and there are less environmental dangers.”

Shurugwi South legislator, Tapiwanashe Matangaidze concurred with the Zela chairman and called for mining conglomerates to adhere to international mining best practices of corporate social responsibility where three percent is set aside for community engagements.

The theme for this year’s indaba is “Creating shared value in the mining sector through engagement with people, business and government”.

The meeting began yesterday and ends today.