Foreign Miners' Abuse in Focus

AFRICA: NO BENEFITS GOING TO HOST COMMUNITIES

- Masoka Dube

Civil societies representing mining-affected communities in Africa are calling on the international community to compel mining firms to stop violating the rights of host communities.

This call was made during the recent online Policy Dialogue Forum hosted by Southern African Political Economy Series Trusts. Chaired by former Zimbabwe politician and academic Prof Ibbo Mandaza, the discussion, titled China and Mining in Africa, provided a platform for activists and experts on mining in Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa to speak about human rights violations caused by foreign-owned mining firms to host communities.

Farai Maguwu, a director of the Centre for Natural Resources Governance in Zimbabwe, said it was one of the countries going through a difficult time because of the abuse the locals suffered from Chinese-owned mining firms.

"What is happening in Zimbabwe is heartbreaking because the people are not benefiting from mining foreign investment."

"Mining firms from China are rampant in the country and they don't create jobs or business opportunities, or empower the local communities."