In a bid to safeguard the rights and wellbeing of communities impacted by mining activities, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) is spearheading efforts to introduce Mines and Minerals Compensation and Relocation legislation.
This proposed law aims to ensure fair compensation and relocation for communities affected by mining operations while highlighting the need to minimize adverse environmental impacts and prioritize the health and safety of residents. Speaking at a recent workshop held in Harare, Proud Nyakure of the Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Miners Workers Union (ZIDAWU) stressed the importance of robust community engagement to facilitate proper and equitable compensation.
“The first one is the government, and the mining companies should ensure that they adopt the UN guiding principles making sure they enhance the duties to protect and respect human rights and ensure that there is remedy when human rights are being violated. It is also important to look at the positives of where people are being relocated to,” said Nyakure.
Zephania Nhidza, CEO of the Mutoko Rural District Council, echoed the same sentiments by Nyakure emphasising the importance of meaningful engagement between miners and communities to ensure mutual benefits.
“We have learnt that it is possible to ensure communities benefit from mining when affected by
relocations. Engagements are important to ensure miners and communities benefit. People have been threatened and there after the miner would end up compensating a few chosen by other powers involved in the matrix,” he said.
Obert Bore from ZELA stressed that the proposed legislative framework would address various challenges, including the rights of children affected by mining activities.
Dr. Grasian Mkodzongi of Tropical Africa highlighted the delicate balance between development and displacement, stressing the need to strike a harmonious balance.
“We need to make sure that we are striking the right balance between development and displacement,” he said.
