Outcry over Chinese miner in Hwange

TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO 

Villagers in Change and Nekabandama, Hwange district in  Matabeleland North  Province are up in arms with a Chinese miner,  Mutagech, which is operating in the area amid fears of evictions, Business Times can report.

Greater Whange Residents Association coordinator Fidelis Chima told Business Times that mining venture will affect most villagers as they will be asked to “leave their houses to a new place where no one knows the situation is like there”.

“We will continue to fight with them until our voices are heard. They can’t just consult the people who are not affected like the government and expect everything to be fine,” Chima said.

“The company was given a special mining grant several years ago, but decided to resume mining activities this year without consulting them in line with the Environmental Management Agency requirements, “More than 600 families in Dinde village, Hwange district, Matabeleland North are also set to  face eviction in a bid to pave the way for the Chinese mining company to operate.

Chima said the company has been using the pandemic as a scapegoat.

“The company was given a special grant by the government about 10 years ago. The problem started this year when it wanted to resume mining operations. During the environmental impact assessment process, it only consulted a section of traditional leaders, leaving out a lot of other people.

“We are not happy about this. We want the country to provide us with its project description so that we know about their environmental plans,’’ Chima said.

Government last month issued a notice to shut down operations in Kaseke Village by a Chinese mining company Heijin in Uzumba after villagers resisted their removal from the 300-hectare piece of land earmarked for the operation