Mining is the mainstay of the Zimbabwean economy, just as economic growth has been base on the extractives industries in most African countries. The Matabeleland Alternative Mining Indaba comes at a time when the country is facing an economic crisis and is hoping to harness the potential that lies within communities to promote effective resource management. Mining by nature is location specific and its impacts are felt by the local communities. The Matabeleland Alternative Mining Indaba is one of the Provincial Alternative Mining Indabas whose aim is to provide a learning and experience sharing platform for stakeholders in the mining sector in line with Zim ASSET’s focus on full exploitation and value addition to the country’s own abundant resources.
To be held for the first time, the 2016 Matabeleland Alternative Mining Indaba will be hosted by Zimbabwe’s Industrial capital Bulawayo which has since lost the right to claim that status because of the distressed industrial situation. The city is however surrounded by mineral rich communities who are yet to harvest their potential and plough back into socio-economic growth. Reflecting on the region’s geographical terrain, prominent mining companies such as Hwange Colliery (coal) and Blanket Mine (gold), have proven that mining has played an astounding role in shaping Matabeleland’s contribution to the nation’s mining industry.
Despite this, communities in the mining areas have remained poorin most cases since one of the most renounced problems of the mining sector in Africa is the question of who benefits from the abundant mineral resources. Mining is a key economic growth issue in Zimbabwe with modest growth because of value addition programs and the drive for investment in the sector.
Now the key to developing local growth lies in encouraging understanding of the dynamic issues concerning mining management and governance in the pursuit of transparent and accountable mineral resource governance. The Matabeleland Alternative mining Indaba is meant to bring communities together, to amplify voices and make community interests known ahead of the Zimbabwe Mining Indaba. The gist of the program lies in bringing forth sustainable development through the extractives industry in line with Agenda 2030 of Sustainable development Goals.
Several stakeholders will be represented including Rural District Councils – Gwanda, Bulawayo, Beitbridge, Hwange, Matobo, Bubi, Umguza, Plumtree, Civil Society Organisations- Bulawayo, Community Based Organisations- Matebeleland, Traditional Chiefs, Mining Companies, Labour, Academic Institutions- NUST, Bulawayo Poly, School of Mines, Legislators, Journalists, Embassies, as well as Funding Partners. Communities in Matabeleland are also encouraged to be part of the deliberations using the hashtag #MatAltMiningIndaba.
