Mining and Development in Southern Zimbabwe: Myth or Reality in Gwanda District?

The book chapter explores mineral resource development strategies for community empowerment, poverty reduction and infrastructure development in Zimbabwe's mining areas. Using descriptive survey data, the authors present a proposal on how the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act can be used as a vehicle for mineral resource development. Despite abundant mineral resources, the majority of Zimbabwean indigenous communities living close to the mines have limited access to directly or indirectly benefit from the mineral resources. The chapter argues that pro-poor mining policies that ensure the harnessing of mineral resources for community empowerment, poverty reduction and infrastructure development are paramount. The chapter further argues that the Indigenous and Economic Empowerment Act needs to be harmonised with other sector legislation in the country. The book chapter concludes that the development of infrastructure and provision of public utilities such as electricity, and water, establishing micro-credit to small and medium enterprises and implementing broad-based indigenisation policies are some of the strategies for improving rural livelihoods. Similarly, direct and indirect linkages between the mining sector and the local economy could be enhanced through the provision of food supply to the mine, manufacture of mining inputs, provision of security services and supply of labour by the local community. The harnessing of mineral resources in any country has been a contested terrain. Of late in Zimbabwe, the government has embarked on a massive indigenisation drive that has seen large-scale mines compelled by law to seed at least 10% of their mineral revenue to CSOTS. The authors recommend the harmonisation of legislation that affects harnessing of mineral resources by local communities will ensure community empowerment, poverty reduction and infrastructure development in mining districts in southern Zimbabwe.