Community Voices

Compiled G. Muhwahwa Following an application for upscaling filed with the Chimanimani rural district council, SOCNET was invited to the Environmental and Social services meeting held on the 4th of December in the district council boardroom. Present were council officials from the environment and social services department.These include the Chairperson …

Story by Refias Sithole (Marange Development Trust) An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is one of the important components in safeguarding the environmental child rights whenever a mining project is to be undertaken. It is not far from the truth that children and youths are more susceptible to the negative impacts …

 By Josphat Makaza-(Chiadzwa Community Development Trust) The problem is, we are being left out where we are wanted most, they do not want us to participate and had never consulted us on decisions that affect our lives. The right of communities to participate and benefit from the extraction of minerals …

 Article by Mufute Tawanda (Atrdt) For the first time in 9 years Arda Transau Relocation Development Trust (ATRDT) was invited to a round table dialogue with all key stakeholders by the Mutare District Administrator. The meeting was attended by different stakeholders namely, the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, Zimbabwe National Water …

Eunica Pabwaungana (Shurugwi Community Development Trust) Three members from Unki mining company visited Village 4 on the 24th of September 2019 . They were meeting a community that comprises of all age groups, from teenagers to octogenarians. The agenda of the meeting was based on the community concerns over impacts …

By Sophia Takuva The colonial era has marginalised the indigenous people in African from the riches of their land. The echoes of exploitation reverberate within our current democratic dispensation, ratcheting up tensions around land and resources. Although our mineral wealth is now theoretically shared by all, the realities of exclusion remain unchanged. …

By Marange Development Trust Following reports of gross  human rights violations in Marange Chiadzwa areas  which has been documented and reported by both community human rights defenders ,community based organizations (CBOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) this attracted the attention of United Nations on Business and Human Rights who then  …

By Billian T Matambo Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Workers Union (ZIDAWU). As supported by section 149 of our constitution which grant Zimbabweans a right to petition its government, Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA), local CBOs, CSOs, youth movements, and relevant stakeholders in the extractive industry joined hands in petitioning the …

By Vincent Ndagurwa and Ashlyn Chintokoma Many people might have heard about the recently held Environmental Child Rights Conference (ECRC) without necessarily having knowledge of what it was all about. We take this opportunity to unpack the Conference’s proceedings.Main focus will be put on its objectives and general outcome thereto …

By Cosmas Sunguro Mutoko villagers of Chagumarira and surrounding communities living near Illford mine are up in arms with the employer as they feel they are being treated unfairly. Like a jilted lover, they feel they were misused while the company made a lot of fortune. The argue that the …