Shruguwi/Mining Promised at lot to the Community but delivers very little

Community activists in are documenting the many problems they  are facing with mining in Shurguwi.

The community has a very high youth unemployment rate, the source of youth turning to crime. Mines abandon shafts and this is a danger to people and cattle. But they are persevering in talking to the mines and hope there will be change.

 

• The South African mining company Anglo Platinum /Unki is not creating Jobs for youth in Shruguwi

Story by Happious chingwaya from Shurugwi community development trust (SCDT) 4/05/18

Good day ladies and gentlemen. I come to you today at time when a lot is happening in our motherland especially in my district of origin Shurugwi. To Begin with, i am baffled by the attitude of one giant mining entity in my community. In a period when the whole nation is calling for inclusivity and transformation, Unki Mine has shown us that all it cares about is its profit and not the livelihoods of the people around them.

Unki is owned by the South African mining corporation Anglo Platinum.
When this mining company ventured into our community we thought the unemployed ratio of the youths was going to be addressed, but believe me only less twenty have managed to get employed by now. Our hope for jobs revived when we expected some of our youths was going to be employed at a smelter which expected to be commissioned in June 2018, but unfortunately we are now told that it is highly mechanised and that  it is going to create 60 jobs for artisans only. This is just a lame excuse to disqualify our youths.
My main worry is that it is never progressive to surround prosperity with poverty. Let us not willingly and consciously create candidates for Zimbabwe prisons.

We demand work, Work, job, employment, basa, Umsebenzo.

 

• The Great Dyke became a Great Threat in some parts Of Midlands.

Story by Happious Chingwaya of Shurugwi Community Development Trust. (SCDT)\04/2018

Chrome mining is no longer a blessing but a curse in Shurugwi And Zvishavane as it has brought nothing than destruction and increased impoverishment.

This follows the reserch made in January 2018 by shurugwi community development trust which clearly shows disused open shafts and pits left unrehabiliated which is now a threat to livestock and human life and also resulting in massive environmental degradation. The researchers also find out that it is not only the informal miners who left those disused pits unrehabiliated especially in Zvishavane at chief mapanzure’area and some parts of Shurugwi around Unki mining zone,But it was also so shameful to note that the biggest chrome mining giant Zimasco ‘Railway Block East Mine lies abandoned and unsecured in Shurugwi town.

As communities living in unsafe conditions due to chrome mining we appeal to the government to ensure that every mining company whose activities is danger to the society must have insurance policy to compensate victims.

 

• Mines give assurances that projects are in the pipeline

Eunica Pabwaungana/ Shurugwi /9/04/18

Mining and farming has proven to be better livelihood projects in Shurugwi than any other projects, though they all have their negatives. Mining activities has destruction of the environment with some miners not even partaking in rehabilitating the environment. On the 28th of March 2018 Chrome miners approached the Ward 19 Vlge 4 Head and told him to consult his community about their project. These miners assured the community to implement several projects which have continued to be in the pipeline. The chrome miners visited the Headman for the second time on the 6th of April 2018 and the issue will be discussed in depth on the 19th of April.