Locals should benefit from mineral resources in their areas

EDITOR — I am appealing to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate to make sure that people who live in the areas where there are mineral resources such as diamonds, iron, chrome and emeralds are also benefiting from the sales of these precious stones.

I am not only talking about mineral resources but resources like timber as well. For example, there are some thick forests in Matabeleland North Province with a lot of timber but there is little to talk about in terms of development.

Matabeleland North Province is still among the poorest in the country with roads, clinics, hospitals, and schools which are yet to be upgraded. Major roads especially in Lupane district where most timber is found, are still in a bad state.

The popular road called Fighting Road which links Lupane District and Nkayi Road is still a dust road full of potholes and if this road had to be tarred using money coming from the sales of timber it would uplift the standards of living for many villagers in the province who would stop the long journey to go to Bulawayo first before Nkayi.

You find the same problem where it is difficult to link Hwange and Binga District. This area especially Jambezi is way back in terms of development. The ministry should hear their loud cries.

Some schools are still located in the bushes and teachers are shunning these schools which are very far from water sources preferring to work at schools either near Binga Centre, Hwange town or Bulawayo.

In Matabeleland South, there are a lot of mining activities taking place but the province is yet to be developed.

We have popular and rich mines such as Blanket Mine and Vumbachigwe which are situated along a very busy and major road but bad dust road which stretches from Bagcwele through Mtshazo to Gwanda but to my big surprise on the map it is indicated that it is a tarred road.

Villagers have complained bitterly about the state of this road and they suspect that the money to upgrade the road may have been abused.

We also have cement in the province but still people in West Nicholson are poor.

Villagers in most parts of Mberengwa have long been complaining more than their counterparts from other districts because they have emeralds which are more precious than all other mineral resources yet the district which is in the Midlands province are poorest in Zimbabwe.

I cannot continue to name the roads which are in poor state in Mberengwa because all of them are in bad state and the four members of Parliament for all the constituencies know what I am talking about.

I will be talking about the diamonds at Marange next time because as I speak I am on my way to Manicaland Province.

I would like to thank Mimosa Platinum Mine who have played their part by ploughing back to the community of Zvishavane by sponsoring some sporting activities in the Midlands Province.

Eddious Masundire, Shumba Chunga Business Centre