This
demand
was
voiced
at
the
recent
Zimbabwe
Alternative
Mining
Indaba,
held
under
the
theme,
“Energy
Transition
Minerals:
Putting
Communities
First
for
Community
Development.”
Temper
Gonde,
a
villager
from
Bubi
in
Matabeleland
North,
described
how
community
members
often
hear
of
new
mining
claims
in
their
region
but
are
restricted
from
accessing
these
sites.
“We’ll
hear
news
of
a
claim,
and
as
people
from
Bubi,
we’ll
be
told
to
go
and
benefit
from
it.
But
before
we
even
arrive,
police
trucks
are
sent
to
tell
us
to
leave.
Next,
the
councillors
step
in,
and
soon,
we
see
council
contractors
working
at
the
claims,”
he
explained.
Gonde
noted
that
while
communities
are
promised
infrastructure
improvements,
such
commitments
are
rarely
kept.
“We’re
told
they’ll
do
things
for
us,
but
then
we
see
police
and
others
with
political
influence
benefiting
instead.
The
community
sees
nothing
from
these
projects,”
he
said.
He
added
that
when
community
members
inquire
about
promised
projects,
like
borehole
drilling,
they’re
directed
to
follow
formal
procedures.
“Yet,
it’s
the
councillor,
police,
and
influential
figures
who
benefit,
not
us,”
Gonde
stated,
pointing
out
that
young
people
who
speak
out
are
sometimes
arrested
and
given
community
service
as
punishment.
“Our
roads
are
dilapidated,
we
lack
clean
water,
and
we
don’t
know
who
to
approach
because
those
meant
to
protect
us
are
the
ones
causing
harm,”
Gonde
said,
emphasizing
the
need
for
district-wide
benefits.
“Our
schools
are
overcrowded,
hospitals
are
in
poor
condition—who’s
going
to
help
us?”
Gonde
called
for
transparency
in
mining
disclosures,
stating,
“We
want
to
know
what’s
being
mined
and
its
value
so
that
we
can
also
benefit.
The
devolution
policy
is
supposed
to
empower
communities,
but
that’s
not
happening
here.”
He
added
that
while
some
companies
claim
to
assist,
there’s
little
clarity
on
their
contributions.
“I
argue
that
it’s
not
the
Chinese
at
fault—they’re
given
permission—but
we
should
know
what
they
bring
so
we
can
hold
them
accountable
for
repairing
our
roads,”
he
said.
Gonde
urged
the
government
to
intervene
and
ensure
mining
activities
benefit
local
communities.
“Maybe
the
government
isn’t
aware
of
the
gold
being
mined
in
Bubi,
but
we
must
inform
them.”
However,
another
villager
from
Mashonaland
Central
shared
a
more
positive
view,
noting
that
some
mining
companies
do
contribute,
by
providing
fire
trucks
and
supporting
community
programs.
“Some
companies
give
back
to
the
community,
but
others
take
much
more
than
they
give,
causing
environmental
degradation
and
water
pollution,
leading
to
conflicts
with
farmers,”
he
explained.
He
added,
“While
we’re
grateful
for
some
support,
companies,
especially
Chinese
ones,
could
do
more.
We’ve
seen
incidents
of
workplace
violence
and
insufficient
worker
protections.”
He
also
raised
concerns
about
whether
the
money
from
mining
operations
truly
benefits
the
economy,
adding,
“If
managed
properly,
our
economy
would
be
stronger,
but
right
now,
it’s
the
community
bearing
the
costs
of
mining.”