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A Chinese firm, Mutagech Logistics (Pvt) Limited has been dragged to Bulawayo High Court by Greater Whange Residents Trust (GWRT). The prayer is to stop carrying out mining activities at the Nechenge Coal Mine Project site in Matabeleland, North Province of Zimbabwe. The local community of the province said that they were not consulted while awarding the project
A Chinese firm, Mutagech Logistics (Pvt) Limited has been dragged to Bulawayo High Court by Greater Whange Residents Trust (GWRT). The prayer is to stop carrying out mining activities at the Nechenge Coal Mine Project site in Matabeleland, North Province of Zimbabwe. The local community of the province said that they were not consulted while awarding the project.
Last year, Mutagech Logistics was given an environmental and social impact assessment certificate and moved on site in the Diki area near a dam under Change ward to start mining. Mutagech Logistics (Pvt) was cited as the first respondent while Hwange Rural District Council was the second respondent. The third respondent is the Environmental Management Agency.
The GWRT plead that mining operations should be stopped as the local community was not consulted. They argued that the Constitution of Zimbabwe as read with the Environmental Management Act (Chapter 2027) required consultation with stakeholders, more so the project was to be undertaken in the province where they are inhabiting.
Mutagech Logistics makes a special note that the consultation would be done only after it has been issued with a development permit. The petitioner argued that at least 300 households were likely to be evicted from their place. Villagers fear that the project will take away communal land earmarked for rural households expansion as well as grazing land for villagers’ cattle and Wildlife.
Some companies already operating in coal mining in Hwange include Hwange Colliery, Makomo Mining, W & K Mining and Galpex Mining. However, last year, the government 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.
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The government has set a target to ensure the continued growth of the mining sector and ensure the sector becomes a US$12 billion industry by 2023. Mining companies are keenly watching the outcome of the case proceedings.
