SOME resettled farmers in ward 5, Bubi district in Matabeleland North province have petitioned President Emmerson Mnangagwa to intervene in their dispute with a Chinese gold mine for failing to adhere to environmental laws.
The petition against Ming Chang Mine was copied to the Environmental Management Agency (Ema), councillors, traditional leaders, legislators, resident minister, Mines and Mining Development minister, sister ministries and the mining firm.
“These farmers were resettled in the year 2000. Their trouble started at the arrival of the Chinese gold miners at Ming Chang Mine,” part of the petition read.
“According to [the] indigenisation policy by the Zimbabwean government, any investor who does business in a community should plough back some resources. In December 2024, President, Emmerson Mnangagwa issued a stern warning to the foreign investors, especially in the mining industry, that Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth must directly benefit local communities.”
The villagers also told the firm that the government now focuses on resource nationalism which seeks to balance and safeguard the interests of its citizenry.
The villagers noted that under Zimbabwe’s amended Mines and Minerals Act, foreign companies are required to allocate a percentage of their revenue to a community development initiative.
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The villagers noted that Ming Chang Mine has no regard for livestock, wild animals (flora and fauna).
“Animals including livestock, kudus, impalas have perished in their unprotected mining activities. Land degradation and uncontrolled cutting down of trees, levelling sacred mountains is the order of the day,” the petition read.
They said air pollution was commonplace in the area.
“Homes and nutritional gardens are red painted with dust. Old and sick people in these villages are living in hell.”
They also complained that the mining company does not provide locals with jobs, adding that it brought more than three-quarters of its workers from outside ward 5 and Bubi constituency.
“Some workers at this company have reported violations of Zimbabwe and international labour practices. Most of these workers stay in plastic shacks with poor or no sanitation/ablution facilities,” the petition read.
“The community share its road with this mine but the mine prohibits the community from using the road that was constructed by Ming Chang Mine,” the villagers noted.
In their proposal, the villagers said Ema must inspect the area without fear or favour and regulate the mining operations in this community.
Matabeleland North Ema provincial manager Chipo Mpofu Zuze said they were yet to receive communication from villagers.
She urged the villagers to give the agency time “to receive it and react to it accordingly,” she said.
The mining firm had also not responded to the petition by yesterday.