Tinaani Nyabereka
Gweru- The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe, last week organized a press club discussion with journalists and miners in Gweru to enhance journalists’ understanding of mining and environmental issues to equip journalists with skills to report on mining-related issues.
Speaking at the press club, Midlands Miners Forum Chairperson, Edgar Benjamin said it was important for the media to be well equipped and know how best to report on issues to do with violence in the mining sector.
“As the Midlands Miners Forum, we are happy to be part of this engagement because it is key in terms of fostering relations between the mining sector and the media.
“Such engagements help us to amplify the voices of miners as well as expose acts of violence and abuse which go unearthed as a result of late exposure.
“As a Miners Forum, we usually conduct engagements with various stakeholders. So it is our prayer that we always engage the media as well,” he added.
Benjamin said as a forum they were advocating for the safety of miners.
“As the forum, we have been advocating for the safety of miners as it remains a key factor. The challenge we have is that we don’t have adequate funding which usually targets rescue operations. Usually, we rely on companies like Mimosa and Unki which have rescue equipment. At times the police are roped in but the challenge is they don’t have the capacity to rescue,” he added.
Save Our Environment Trust, (SOET) Director, Oswald Chishanga said at a certain time, NGOs had forged an alliance to stand against environmental degradation due to illegal mining.
“We need to work hand in hand as people, as CSOs recently engaged with other CSOs to try and lobby for issues that affect our environment with regards to mining activities.
If we destroy the environment, we destroy life, it’s always good to protect the surroundings which protects us,” Chishanga said.
Gweru-based journalist, Stephen Chadenga called upon journalists to further research in mining communities, and impact positively by reporting on mining developmental issues.
