By Brilliant Mukaro
BIKITA – Bikita Residents have referred the current crop of councilors as useless and anti-development accusing them of blocking Bikita Minerals from constructing houses for its workers at Nyika growth point.
This came at a mining Indaba organized by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) at Nyika growth point on Wednesday June 7.
The meeting which provided a platform for dialogue on natural resource governance and peace building was attended by members of Bikita Residents and Ratepayers Association (BIRRA) and Bikita Business Association (BBA), councilors and traditional leaders.
Residents complained that Bikita Minerals was doing little to boost business at Nyika growth point which is the capital of the district despite being touted as one of the biggest producers of lithium in the country.
The scathing accusation came after Bikita Minerals public relations officer Collen Nikisi said the company had intentions to build houses for its nearly 1500 workers at Nyika but council overcharged the stands.
He said the company is currently looking for land from farms surrounding the mine to build the houses.
This did not go down well with concerned residents who became irate and accused the councilors of being useless, for letting such a golden opportunity go by the wind.
BBA chairperson Charles Musimiki did not mince his words describing policy makers from the district as useless and anti- development.
He said the plan was a golden opportunity which would boost business for the growth point which is developing at a tortoise’s pace as compared to other growth points like Jerera, Mpandawana and Murambinda.
“Our councilors are useless and anti – development, we are going to take this issue head on, we would like the growth of the Mine to also spill to Nyika which is the capital of the growth point”, said Musimiki.
BIRRA residents coordinator Bright Maduyu said construction of houses at Nyika was more clever than building them at the Mine site as they would become a white elephant after depletion of the resource being explored.
He said such a situation has become synonymous with a lot of Mines across the country where valuable infrastructure is lying idle.
He also implored the Mine to consider building a stadium for its team which is in the premier soccer league at Nyika.
“Construction of Bikita Minerals accommodation for workers at Nyika is wiser than any other place. This is the capital of the district which has prospects of continuity. The Mine site will become a forest when there is no more exploration”, said Maduyu.
Bikita Ward 12 Councillor Brighton Mushekwa who is a member of the Bikita RDC Environment and Planning Committee who stood in for the local authority laid blame on the previous council saying the crop of councilors in the previous term scored a lot of own goals but promised to raise the issue since the matter is dealt with by his committee.
“It is wrong to say Bikita councillors are useless. You must understand that we have a few months in office. The resolution that blocked that development was made before we assumed office, we will make sure it is redressed” said Mushekwa.
ZCC provincial programmes coordinator Tawanda Mafuta applauded stakeholders for the fruitful engagement.
He said his organisation in conjunction with likeminded organizations like BIRRA will continue to organize such programmes and make sure residents make follow ups on promised projects.
“I am grateful that this meeting has created dialogue for stakeholders who are geared for development. We will continue organizing these meetings to ensure that promises are implemented. We do not want mere words but we want to see action”, said Mafuta.
