Mining contracts must be published – PWYP
Publish What You Pay Zimbabwe (PWYP) has called for the government to publish all mining contracts while defying all policies that hinder transparency as well as accountability saying lack of transparency results in distrust in the mining sector.
By Shantel Chisango
PWYP Vice-Chairperson Cosmas Sunguro on Twitter said, “We choose to challenge the policies and institutions that stifle transparency and accountability in the extractive mining industry.”
“Lack of transparency results in distrust, therefore the mining contracts must be publicised,” he added.
Running with the theme of transparency and accountability in the mining sector, Mr Sunguro underpinned the importance of benefit sharing in the mining sector.
“Benefit sharing is a notion found in the Convention on Biological diversity, article 15 sets out rules which govern access and benefit-sharing,” said Sunguro.
There should be an open book policy when it comes to the negotiation of contracts, contractual obligations, and clear outlines of how the nation at large and communities specifically are going to benefit from the mining operations of a company.
PWYP Zimbabwe was founded in 2011 around the need to promote and protect the political, economic, social, environmental, and cultural rights of communities affected by extraction.
The coalition has focused much of its efforts on improving mining legislation, such as the proposed Diamond Revenue Bill, the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, the mineral policy, and the constitutional reform process.
It also advocates for reform of existing laws that hinder transparency and public participation, such as the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Public Order and Security Act.