Bubi Stakeholders meet to discuss farmer-miner conflicts
Bubi stakeholders on Monday held a meeting to discuss how best they can resolve farmer-miner conflicts in communities.
Shantel Chisango
Stakeholders present during the meeting were the Ministry of Mining and Mines Development, Environmental Management Agency (EMA), Rural District Council, Zimbabwe Republic Police, and delegates from Agritex.
At the meeting, it was discussed that entitlement is the major cause of farmer-miner conflicts, hence the urgency to properly address the issues.
Adding on, it was said that both the mining and farming sector are crucial to the development of the country’s economy.
It was also stated that the reason why conflicts arise among miners and farmers, is because both parties fail to peacefully work together.
“Both farmers and miners lack understanding on the power of working together,” said a delegate at the meeting.
Furthermore, the issue of pegging arose during the meeting and the Mines ministry elaborated on the issue of pegging saying that it is not its responsibility, but the responsibility of prospectors.
“The Ministry of Mines explains the pegging process to the Bubi Stakeholders. It has been elaborated that the Ministry doesn’t Peg mines but peggers.”
Moreover, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) commented that the miner-farmer conflict has been in the public domain for a while.
“The issue of #farmer #miner conflict continues to dominate discussions in several mining communities,” said ZELA.
ZELA emphasised the importance of managing conflict before it takes a toll on the community.
“We have to manage conflict before it manages us,” added ZELA.
It wasn’t clear however if artisanal small-scale miners and prospectors were represented at the event since they are at the forefront of the disputes.