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(HERALD) Mining firm, community forge sound ties

Mining firm, community forge sound ties
By Michael Chideme recently in Chimanimani

MOST companies engaged in high-value minerals mining would cause the mass eviction of local communities to create their own fiefdoms.

The situation is completely different with the joint venture between the Development Trust of Zimbabwe and Russian company OZGEO, which has established an opencast alluvial gold mine in the Tsvingwe area of Mutare River Valley near Penhalonga.

The company is also prospecting for diamonds along Haroni River in Mutekesanwa Village under Chief Chikukwa in Chimanimani.

In Mutare, the company employs around 350 people while in Chimanimani 20 people have so far been employed with plans afoot to increase the workforce once full-scale mining begins.

Zimbabweans who underwent mining training in Russia have found a home with the company as they find it easy to communicate and relate.

Mr Yevgeniy Protopopov, the company’s chief mining engineer, says: "We want to always have and maintain good relations with the locals because they are the owners of the land.

"We also want to create employment for the locals. If they stay near us, the better for the company."

The communities on their part are happy with the company’s operations in both Mutare and Chimanimani.

Tsvingwe Residents’ Association deputy chairman Mr Daniel Mahlanganise says, "They are repairing our roads, building bridges, assisting our local school and capacitating the local police with fuel and at times repair of vehicles.

"The company assists during national events by supplying fuel and transport to carry locals to celebration centres."

He said the mining project was empowering communities under headmen Murahwa, Zengeni, Nyamukwarara and Chikanga, who all fall under Chief Mutasa.

The entry of the joint venture company has boosted employment levels in the communities, especially with timber companies laying off staff and making people redundant.

Headman Gideon Murahwa said DTZ-OZGEO was doing its bit to help the communities.

"Most of the people employed here are locals. The company trained the locals to operate the heavy machinery. Our people have also learnt skills that will better their lives. We are happy with the company," he said.

He said the community and the company were assisting each other in reclaiming the land dug-up during past mining operations.

People are now farming on the reclaimed land.

A director with DTZ-OZGEO, Mr Ismail Shillaev, says the company had constructed a pipeline to feed Tsvingwe following severe water shortages in the area."

He said the company puts emphasis on further training people who have building, carpentry, engineering and welding experience, among other specialist trades.

"Zimbabwe has very nice people. They are ready to learn. Our specialists from Russia teach the locals to use this specialised mining machinery," he said.

Mr Protopopov says operations in Chimanimani are still at the exploration stage.

However, this has not stopped the company from involving itself in community projects.

He says should the need to move families arise, the Chimanimani Rural District Council would be consulted with full compensation paid.

"We however want the people near us," he insists.

A local villager Mr Kenias Matokoza adds: "We have no problems with the company. As you can see our farming operations have not been disturbed. We work side by side."

The formation of the joint venture company is the brainchild of the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo whose vision was the development and empowerment of local communities.

He personally led a delegation to Russia to invite them to partner Zimbabweans to exploit natural resources for the benefit of locals.

President Mugabe is the company’s patron while Vice President John Nkomo is the company’s vice president.

Labels: MINING

posted by MrK @ 10:30 PM