Haulin,
which
is
extracting
quarry
stones
in
Pumula
suburb
in
Bulawayo’s
Ward
17,
has
begun
to
cooperate
with
the
community
to
address
the
violations
and
the
social
needs
of
affected
citizens.
The
relationship
between
the
Chinese-owned
company
and
the
community
began
on
a
rocky
note
in
2021
when
operations
commenced,
with
the
mine
violating
numerous
residents’
rights.
The
Pumula
community
has
for
years
complained
bitterly
about
cracking
houses,
damage
to
roads
as
well
as
air
and
noise
pollution
caused
by
Haulin
operations
taking
place
within
the
suburb.
Haulin,
on
the
other
hand,
had
repeatedly
turned
a
deaf
ear
to
calls
for
redress,
until
the
residents
joined
hands
with
civil
society
to
exert
more
pressure
on
the
quarry
miner,
an
investigation
has
established.
The
Centre
for
Innovation
and
Technology
(CITE)
has
been
at
the
forefront
of
exposing
some
of
the
environmental
challenges
brought
by
the
mining
operations.
In
an
interview,
Bulawayo
Progressive
Residents
Association
(BPRA)
Ward
17
organising
secretary,
Nqobizitha
Moyo,
also
admitted
that
there
was
poor
uptake
of
their
advocacy
to
engage
the
mine.
But,
according
to
Moyo,
that
was
because
they
were
operating
in
the
COVID-19
era
that
made
it
difficult
to
mobilise
residents
and
other
stakeholders.
Covid19
regulations
strictly
prohibited
huge
gatherings
and
human
movement
was
restricted
by
a
series
of
lockdowns.
“We
started
consultations
during
Covid-19.
If
you
remember,
there
were
strict
limitations
on
gatherings.
This
led
to
online
consultations,
with
a
few
people
meeting
for
further
discussions,”
Moyo
said.
“Among
the
priority
issues
were
employment
creation,
assistance
for
children
unable
to
pay
school
fees,
support
for
vulnerable
community
members,
road
rehabilitation,
and
other
development
projects.
Since
our
area
faces
water
shortages,
we
also
requested
the
establishment
of
alternative
water
sources.”
Nothando
Ndiweni,
BPRA
Vice
Chairperson
for
Ward
17,
noted
that
when
mining
operations
began,
residents
encountered
numerous
challenges.
“There
was
air
and
noise
pollution.
Our
peri-urban
community
includes
villagers
with
livestock
affected
by
the
mine’s
air
pollution.
“Blasting
came
with
loud
noise
and
the
tremours
were
strong.
Our
houses
would
shake,
windows
would
break,
and
furniture
was
damaged.
Sometimes
pots
would
fall
off
stoves,
posing
a
risk
to
anyone
nearby,”
Ndiweni
said.
In
addition
to
BPRA,
the
campaign
to
end
the
violations
perpetrated
by
Haulin
also
involved
the
Accountability
Lab
and
the
Zimbabwe
Coalition
on
Debt
and
Development.
“They
taught
us
the
stages
to
follow
when
engaging
the
mine.
Initially,
we
were
not
organised
and
didn’t
speak
with
one
voice.
Some
individuals
sought
personal
assistance
at
the
expense
of
the
community,”
she
added.
For
2024,
Haulin
has
paid
school
fees
for
19
students
attending
nine
schools
in
the
area,
even
though
residents
feel
that
mine
can
increase
the
scholarships
to
cover
more
children.
The
company
bought
five
of
the
requested
10
tanks
to
enhance
water
availability
and
donated
groceries
to
some
orphans
It
was
established
that,
while
Haulin
is
prepared
to
mend
the
roads,
Bulawayo
City
Council
(BCC)
bureaucracy
has
hindered
the
rehabilitation
process.
“We
are
now
benefiting
from
our
community
resources.
However,
some
projects
remain
incomplete.
Jojo
tanks
have
been
bought,
school
fees
for
19
children
in
nine
schools
have
been
covered,
and
groceries
have
been
donated
to
orphans.
Road
rehabilitation
is
still
pending,”
she
added.
Joel
Moyo,
the
village
development
committee
member
for
Methodist
Village,
expressed
frustration
that
despite
progress
with
the
mine,
BCC
was
delaying
project
implementation.
“We
are
concerned
because
the
city
council
is
slowing
down
our
projects,”
he
said.
The
BPRA
chairperson,
Elias
Nyathi,
echoed
similar
concerns:
“In
Pumula,
we
are
still
waiting
for
them
(BCC)
to
approve
some
of
the
sites
for
the
remaining
Jojo
tanks.
We
requested
10
in
total,
but
only
five
have
been
installed.”
Nyathi
added:
“BCC
requisitioned
materials
for
road
repairs,
and
though
the
mine
is
ready
to
transport
them,
the
council
is
yet
to
act.
According
to
city
by-laws,
road
rehabilitation
is
the
council’s
responsibility,
but
we
don’t
understand
the
delay
in
approving
the
project.”
Haulin
Mine
community
engagement
and
communication
officer,
Rodrick
Moyo,
told
this
publication
that,
despite
early
challenges,
progress
had
been
made
in
collaboration
with
residents.
“The
residents
were
initially
divided
and
faced
internal
conflicts.
However,
we
have
moved
forward
and
made
significant
progress,”
Moyo
said.
“The
main
setback
is
the
city
council.
We
are
still
waiting
for
them
to
advise
on
road
rehabilitation.
They
provided
us
with
a
quote
and
we
have
the
materials
ready.
For
the
outstanding
Jojo
tanks,
the
residents
are
also
awaiting
site
approvals,
but
everything
else
is
in
place,”
he
said.
Moyo
said
there
were
additional
environmental
projects
in
the
pipeline
as
part
of
the
mine’s
commitment
to
responsible
operations.
Ward
17
councillor,
Sikhululekile
Moyo,
said
the
ward
development
committee
had
fruitful
discussions
with
the
mine,
with
considerable
progress
achieved.
“We’ve
discussed
developing
a
CSR
(corporate
social
responsibility)
implementation
plan,
addressing
community
concerns
about
the
mine’s
social
and
environmental
impact,
and
negotiating
with
the
roads
engineering
department
to
rehabilitate
Ngena
Road
(in
Pumula),”
she
said.
“It’s
worrying
that
the
city
council
is
taking
so
long
to
cooperate.
These
mining
operations
are
time-sensitive.
If
they
finish
extracting
without
the
council’s
input,
we
will
be
left
without
development
in
the
community,”
she
added.
Cllr
Moyo
noted
that
urban
mining,
if
properly
managed,
could
significantly
benefit
communities.
“I
believe
many
people
misunderstand
urban
mining
due
to
past
negative
experiences.
After
the
progress
we’ve
made
with
Haulin,
we’re
ready
to
engage
another
mine
in
the
area,
confident
that
residents
will
benefit
from
that
as
well.”
The
Bulawayo
municipality
did
not
respond
to
questions
sent
out
by
this
publication
regarding
delays
in
the
outstanding
projects.