Provincial minister responsible for Midlands Affairs, Jason Machaya is expected to open the Midlands Provincial Alternative Mining Indaba (PAMI) in Shurugwi on Wednesday morning, with more than a hundred participants expected to attend the two-day workshop, while a similar meeting is scheduled for Manicaland on 24 and 25 June 2015.
Drawing up communities from Zvishavane, Mhondoro-Ngezi, Mazvihwa, Mberengwa and Shurugwi, the indaba will have as its theme, “Creating shared value in mineral sector through engagement with people, business, and Government.”
Participants will not be limited to civil society and faith organisations, local authorities and traditional leaders, members of parliament and Government departments, but also mining companies in addition to artisanal and small scale miners. The media will also be represented.
According to one of the coordinators of the event, Mukasiri Sibanda, who is also a Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) Project Officer responsible for economic governance, the Ministry of Mines, ZELA, Environmental Management Authority (EMA), the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, among other organisations, will facilitate at the event.
“Topics for discussion include the role of ZHRC in resource rich communities, opportunities and challenges in enhancing social service delivery issues from natural resources, and some perspectives of funding partners on engagement. There is so much more,” informed Sibanda to 263Chat.
Mining conglomerates Unki Mines, Mimosa Mines, as well as Murowa Diamonds, will share experiences on community engagement and promotion of local development initiatives.
The PAMIs offer an important trajectory towards the Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba, another annual event hosted by ZELA, meant to allow national dialogue on various mining and related issues.
