Brilliant Mukaro
BIKITA – Green Governance Zimbabwe Trust held a mining symposium in Bikita on November 9 where stakeholders discussed ways in which communities that host critical minerals can sustainably keep them for future generations.
Dubbed ‘Critical Minerals and Just Energy Transition’, the meeting was attended by members from Bikita Residents and Ratepayers Association (BIRRA) and Bikita Business Association.
Explaining the objectives of the meeting GGZT Programs Coordinator Lewis Marowa said communities and key stakeholders were supposed to jealously guard critical minerals as they were sources of energy as the world was transforming towards smart energy sources.
He said his organisation aims to ensure sustainable utilisation of lithium and other critical minerals to avoid over utilisation of resources by foreign investors at the expense of the host country.
“As communities that host critical minerals like lithium here in Bikita we must remember that the world is moving towards just energy transition and there is stampede for lithium which is a critical source of energy.
“There is need to put the pain and the pleasure on the balance and consider whether we are benefiting from the so called investors or we are selling our future for a song”, said Marowa.
Ward 12 councillor Brighton Mushekwa said councilors as policy makers had a critical role in safeguarding critical minerals by putting checks and balances to ensure good governance.
He however said failure by councils to implement critical by-laws which govern extraction of critical minerals remain a major setback despite the spirited efforts to ensure sustainable utilisation of lithium in Bikita.
He called on government to bring back Community Share Ownership Schemes which put communities at the centre of decision making.
“As policymakers we have a critical role to play in ensuring sustainable mining, however a lot of key by laws are not being implemented by council due to financial constrains”, said Mushekwa.
