Reckless chrome mining activities creating extensive land degradation in Zvishavane
Communities in Mapirimira Zvishavane have lamented the degradation of their community’s environment and infrastructure by the chrome mines that include Asia Ferry and Bhunday operating there.
By Shantel Chisango
Mapirimira ward complained that the chrome mining companies operating there are reckless with their environment and infrastructure for they abandon the pits leaving them open, posing serious health risks and death to livestock and people.
Chrome mining companies in Zvishavane have been well known for leaving pits open without closing them to keep the environment from harm.
It is unfortunate that businesses turn a blind ear and do nothing about it when communities confront mining companies, reminding them of the danger they would bring to them if they are reckless with their environment and infrastructure.
Speaking to ZELA, the Mapirimira community added that when they engaged with Asia Ferry about their grievances the company did not attend to them due to financial instability.
“We visited Asia Ferry to tell them of our problems but unfortunately they did not attend to us because they said the company was financially breaking.”
The Mapirimira community stood together to confront Asia Ferry over the extensive damage chrome companies are doing on infrastructure, making Asia Ferry attend to their problems.
In reality, the host mining communities feel unable to require these companies to rehabilitate the areas where chrome extraction would have been done.
The Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment (IEE) Act enables indigenous Zimbabweans to engage in mining activities through share ownership schemes, such as the Group Share Ownership Trust (CSOT).
In the communities where they operate, companies use Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to receive a good social license that, sadly, most mining companies, particularly in the chrome field, seldom return to communities citing low prices and rising operating costs.