Insiza South Chief Sibasa, born Bekezela Sibanda, has questioned the influx of miners from outside Insiza district, accusing them of exploiting local mineral resources and leaving behind open pits that threaten livestock and communities.
The traditional leader said local communities were often unaware of mining activities on their land, despite the government repeatedly emphasising the need for communities to benefit from their natural resources.
Chief Sibasa said he had heard Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister Albert Nguluvhe calling on miners not to leave open pits, while President Emmerson Mnangagwa had also spoken about the country being built by its owners.
He questioned why people from outside the district were coming to exploit gold in Insiza while local communities appeared to have little knowledge of what was happening.
“What is happening in Insiza where you just see people digging for gold in the rivers and on the land, when the local owners of the land are not aware of worrying? What does that mean?,” Sibasa asked.
“They come carrying papers while we do not know what is happening.”
Sibasa questioned whether local people lacked the capacity to participate in mining activities on their own land.
“Does it mean that we locals are unable to do that to a point where people from other places outside our district have to come and exploit our resources in our watch?” he asked.
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“We have local miners who can do that, but why do we have people from outside our district coming to do such activities?”
He said the situation was particularly concerning because some miners left open pits after completing their operations, exposing livestock and communities to danger.
“These people leave open pits that claim the lives of our cattle while they are gone,” he said.
He also questioned the apparent disconnect between government calls for development to begin at grassroots level and decisions affecting communities being made elsewhere.
The concerns came shortly after Nguluvhe officially opened the fourth annual Insiza district Industrial and Agricultural Expo in Filabusi, held under the theme “Connect, Collaborate and Grow.”
Nguluvhe said Matabeleland South was endowed with rich mineral deposits, but stressed that extraction should be accompanied by environmental rehabilitation, local value addition and corporate social responsibility.
“Resource extraction must work hand in hand with environmental rehabilitation, local value addition and demonstrate corporate social responsibility,” he said.
“We expect our mining companies to partner with the community in upgrading schools, health facilities, water points and local infrastructure.”
The traditional leader also renewed his campaign against child marriages, urging parents not to marry off young children under the campaign dubbed “Not in My Village.”
He also raised concern over drug abuse, warning that substance abuse was threatening the future of communities.
