Constraints and Opportunities in the Mitigation of Adverse Environmental Impacts in Mineral Resources Harnessing—Some Marange Diamond Perspectives

Abstract

Zimbabwe has a population of 15.4 million people in which 2.8 million of them live in extreme poverty . Since independence, the Zimbabwean government has implemented a plethora of populist macro and microprogrammes to deal with poverty . These have had differing success. Zimbabwean economy has been struggling to deal with poverty and foster community development for the past decades. Zimbabwean nominal gross domestic product in 2016 was pegged at $14.6 billion. The largest productive sectors in the economy were hotels and restaurants (13% of GDP), manufacturing (12% of GDP), agriculture (12% of GDP), transport and mining (11% of GDP) and mining (9% of GDP). Zimbabwe’s economy relies on interconnected activities in mining, agriculture and tourism. Between 2006 and 2009 diamonds were discovered in Chiadzwa ward in Marange area. On a macro level, the discovery of diamonds in Zimbabwe created an expectation that the economy will grow through job creation, infrastructure development, investment opportunities and improved livelihoods of the host communities . Prior to the discovery of diamonds in Chiadzwa , the local community economy was viewed as heavily dependent on animal rearing craft and farming drought -resistant crops and dependent on donor organisations for survival . Mining companies in Chiadzwa had a capacity to produce about US $600,000 worth of diamonds per week. With such great potential one expects that the diamond sales trickle to the local community and national level. CSR seems to offer a plausible solution to sustainable social development to disadvantaged communities. It is against this background that this chapter aims at critiquing perspectives of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) implementation in Chiadzwa where communities should be beneficiaries of mineral extractive activities. CSR may also help to improve the quality of life thus in a way combating poverty among the marginalised groups such as women , youth and children in the host communities. When correctly implemented, CSR is expected to positively impact on the host community . Evidence from the literature shows that CSR is largely voluntary and generally communities do not always benefit in the mining profitability in third world countries. This chapter recommends pathways state and non-state actors can pursue mandating mining companies to have practical sustainable CSR programmes when conducting mining operations and perform mandatory follow up studies after the mines have completed their operations. The CSR in the mining industry should be motivated by sustainable development rather than establishing legitimacy. Through CSR implementation expectations are that the host communities are protected from exploitation of their community resources which in turn advance equity of all marginalised groups particular women and children .

Lawrence Matenga, Social Worker and Freelance Researcher (UK) with specialist training in Social Impact Assessment (MA ) from University of Johannesburg South Africa

Takudzwa Leonard Mathende, Social Worker and Researcher (UK) training in Social Impact Assessment from University of Johannesburg

Tatenda Goodman Nhapi, Social Worker (UK) awarded an Erasmus Mundus Masters in Advanced Development Social Work with five European Universities