PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE

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FORM OF PETITION

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TO THE PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE

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PRESENTED TO THE SPEAKER OF ZIMBABWE 0N 4^th NOVEMBER 2019

The Petition of the Undersigned:

MHONDONGORI RESOURCES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST Mhondongori Primary School P Bag 697 Zvishavane whose Trustees are the following:Zireva Kudakwashe Zireva,Ratidzo Moyo, Bigboy Mboora,Renada Chimiti,

Martha Madziviridze and Kundai Madzvamuse;

Mapanzure Community Development Trust

John Jabangwe, Christine Maguvu, Charles Sibanda and Christopher Maposa

And whose contact person is Zireva Kudakwashe, the Coordinator , Mhondongori Primary School P Bag 697 Zvishavane. Contact number 0775744608/0713199593

Mhondongori Resources Community Development Trust  in its own capacity and on behalf of community members  from Mhondongori, Mapirimira ward, Shauke ward, Murowa ward appearing in Appendix “A”

Respectfully shows that Your Petitioners:

Being citizens of Zimbabwe;

And whose funding method is: Members contributions and grants from different  organisations;

COGNISANT thatthe Parliament of Zimbabwe is mandated by the Constitution of Zimbabwe to, inter alia, protect the Constitution and promote democratic governance in Zimbabwe;

Parliament or the Speaker must ensure they take into account the role of the public and civil society in the legislative process relating to the protection  by the Constitution in Sections 139 (f) and 141.

CONCERNED by the rate of policy shift within the mining sector and relaxation of some policies that promotes direct benefit to local communities from the resources within their localities;

COGNISANT  of the relaxation of the Indigenisation policy compromising  section 13 of the constitution on national development ;

ALARMED by the removal of the legal basis for the  Indigenisation policy that governs the operationalisation  of community share ownership trust schemes  ;

DESIROUS of mining sector that gives benefits to local communities and create linkages for sustainable development since minerals are finite resources as enshrined in African mining vision and other  regional standards, norms and principles to which Zimbabwe is a signatory :

NOW THEREFORE the petitioners beseech the Parliament of Zimbabwe to implore the Executive to uphold the Constitution by ensuring mining sector investments benefit local communities through enforcing community share ownership trust schemes and ensuring that there is  a compliance  by mining companies in supporting the initiative.

Background

Currently, Zimbabwe’s mining sector  is ‘driving cog’ of our economy and is one of the major sectors that still has the ability to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). However, while commonly presented as a sector providing development opportunities for the national government and local communities, mining activities in Zimbabwe have repeatedly triggered a myriad of problems such as policy shift giving advantage to FDIs .

Your petitioners believe, policies must ensure that communities benefit from resources within their localities as stipulated in the constitution section 13(4) on national development to enhance socio-economic development  for improved quality service delivery. Noting with high concern on the scrapping of the Indigenisation policy which was one of the key enablers in community development. The policy formed Community Share Ownership Schemes that brought different development in form of infrastructure which suitable for service delivery. Without the necessary legal basis, local communities in Zimbabwe will continue to suffer at the hands of mining corporations. A mutually beneficial partnership between the state, the private sector, civil society, local communities and other stakeholders must be developed to ensure communities benefit from their minerals. Harnessing mineral resources for economic development and community empowerment is critical in addressing the poverty scourge and improving the quality of life for all Zimbabweans as envisioned by section 13 of the Constitution .

Your petitioners appeal to this August House to take into account the following issues for promoting and bringing back of the Indigenisation policy  .

1.Uphold the constitution section 13(4) which ensure that communities should benefit from resources within their localities through reverting back to the Indigenisation policy.

2. Uphold the provisions of section 301(2d) the need to provide basic services, including educational and health facilities, water, roads, social amenities and electricity to marginalised which signify there is improved service delivery for the benefit of present and future generations.

3. Noting that minerals are finite resources always leave permanent damage to our lovely land and 10% should compensate host communities for the damage caused.

4.Promotion of linkages that ensures funds from the mining sector support agriculture to ensure local sustainable development.

5.Urgently review, enact and enforce laws that promotes direct benefit by locals creating a regulatory environment that facilitates mining corporations’ respect laws that forces them to cede funds to community share ownership trust schemes.

REASONS WHY COMMUNITIES NEED COMMUNITY SHARES OWNERSHIP TRUST SCHEMES

POST ESTABLISHMENT OF ZCSOT

Quantitative and qualitative transformative development has been witnessed as can be shown on the table below. In six years of operation the ZCSOT has transformed rural communities in Runde Rural District Council. Each ward in RRDC has something to show in terms of infrastructure.

ZCSOT 2013 TO 2017  INFRASTUCTURE DEVELOPMENTS IN EDUCATION SECTOR.

2 ×1 classroom blocks	40
Toilets	20
F14 houses	11
Science laboratory	1
Schools supplied with furniture	6
Schools electrified	5
Schools fenced	2

Health Sector 2013–7.

Construction of clinics	1
Borehole drilling and fitting	20
Construction of F14 houses	3
Electrified clinics	1

Food security 2013–7

Rehabilitation of irrigation schemes	4
Fish farming	1

Ward Based Projects 2018—9.

Construction community halls	8
Installation of solar pump	1
Construction of F14 house	4
Schools supplied with furniture	2
Renovations of classroom blocks	6
Construction of ECD blocks	1
Electrification	1
Water installation	1

Petitioners’ Plea and Prayer:

1. The Parliament of Zimbabwe must push for the immediate reinstatement and review of the Indigenisation Laws of Zimbabwe in order to promote direct benefit of communities from mining proceeds.

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Alternatively, Parliament of Zimbabwe must push for the enactment of laws which ensure that local communities benefit from the exploitation of mineral resources as envisaged by section 13 (4) of the Constitution.

WHEREFORE your petitioners pray that this August House will be pleased to take their case into favourable consideration.

AND your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

DATED AT HARARE, THIS  4^th DAY OF NOVEEMBER 2019