The government has urged mining companies to prioritize issues of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) to ensure that communities benefit significantly from Mining activities in their areas.
Rudairo Mapuranga
This call has come after various communities have raised a red flag and demanded change on matters of sustainable mining.
Through his 2023 National Budget Statement presented to the Parliament of Zimbabwe at the new parliament building in Mt Hampden last week Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube said miners were required to invest in ESG to ensure communities benefit as well as that the environment will not be left in a degradation state after mining.
“Miners are required to prioritise Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues for communities to fully benefit from mining activities in their areas. This will enable investors to deliver sustainability (cultural and heritage) and contribute to the empowerment of communities, stakeholder engagement and awareness to environmental impacts,” Prof Ncube said.
Earlier this year, President Emerson Mnangagwa urged the mining industry to prioritize issues ESG for communities to fully benefit from the minerals mines in their areas.
The President said that many miners were not prioritizing mine rehabilitation which has become a cancer, with the first citizen personally witnessing many uncovered pits around the country.
It has been proven that communities are no longer ignorant on matters of sustainability and are demanding change while at the same time investors and financial institutions seek to put the onus back on businesses to make them more inclusive, socially responsible, and sustainable. Compliance, therefore, emerges as a critical factor to drive change and the call to action lies with governments to enforce regulations and benchmarks.
President Mnangagwa also called on mining companies to go green in their operations to preserve the environment for future use.
“It is mining expectation that mining houses now begin to green their operations through responsible mining towards low carbon emissions and sustainable mining.
Sometimes as I fly around I see many places where miners would have dug holes without rehabilitation. So please don’t invite the government to create draconian legislation to force you to green and maintain your areas of operation,” President Mnangagwa said.
“Further the emerging Environment, Social and Governance thrust in the mining sector, now demands that mining houses create real benefits for the communities in which they are operating. Over and above supporting livelihoods, it is also necessary for you in the sector to invest in the protection of the environment, while building long term community resilience. In this endeavour, capacity building for mining sector professionals in Environment, Social and Governance must be given due attention.” the President said.