The community was already facing eviction to pave way for
the construction of the Gwayi-Shangani Dam.
“Mining by Hwange will evacuate 52 homesteads, but what we
do not know is where the families are going. We are also facing evacuation over
the Gwayi-Shangani Dam and nothing is clear so far on the evacuation
areas,”Munkuli said.
“As a community, we have discussed the issue and agreed
that we will not agree to the evacuation.
However, we are advised that he mining company is now ready to mine.”
Munkuli said they were waiting for the district development
co-ordinator (DDC) to address the villagers on the issue.
DDC Land Kabome said he was aware of the issue.
In 1945 the Lubimbi community was moved from the Madilo
area between Shangani and Kana rivers to pave way for a Cold Storage Commission
project.
Some were moved to the area during the construction of the
Kariba Dam around 1956, and the others came from Sinamatela area around 1950
and were moved to pave way for the establishment of the Hwange National Park.
“It has not yet reached that level of evacuation but l am
aware that HCC was given a mining claim long back. The colliery is supposed to
go to the community and advise the villagers,” Kabome said.
“We have not yet engaged the community. We will update you,
because there will be certain things we expect the HCC to do for the
community.”
HCC public relations manager Beauty Mutombe said they were
engaging the community.
“There are no evacuations at this stage, we are engaging
the community through the office of the DDC but so far we have not yet done
anything on site,” she said. Newsday
0 comments:
Post a Comment