Zimpapers Logo

Chonicle Correspondent
Duration Gold-run Athens Mine in Mvuma was last week honoured with a prestigious award for their ground-breaking corporate social responsibility program which has been emulated in neighbouring countries amongst other community initiatives.

The first-of-its-kind program solved a dirty and bloody conundrum; dealing with the scourge of illegal miners on one hand while making sure mining operations were not disrupted as well as averting what had become a dangerous fallout between the mine and illegals miners from the community.

Illegal miners

The result was an ingenious plan where the mine partnered with the illegal miners, ensuring safety protocols were followed and that the operations of the miners were in cooperation with the mine, running as partners in a win-win solution.

So unique and effective was the program that some mines in neighbouring South Africa have adopted the practice causing social cohesion between the formal mining companies and small scale previously illegal miners, who now operate from legitimate allocated claims.

“Months ago, we would not have been able to eat from the same plate as these guys,” said Dave Easterbrook, a senior member of Duration Gold who oversaw the project’s inception as he enjoyed a plate of sadza and kapenta fish prepared by the small scale miners at one of the claims when the project commenced: “Now here I am sitting with them in harmony and enjoying a meal with them as partners and not adversaries.”

kapenta fish

And two years after the launch of that trailblazing project, Athens Mine manager, Mawulana Phiri, was all smiles as he received an award at the Midlands Corporate Social Responsibility Awards at The Village Lodge in the Midlands provincial capital of Gweru.

“We have a number of projects we have been working on as corporate social responsibility initiatives which stand out, including working with the community to develop schools, respond to emergencies like dealing with veld fires as well as many other initiatives, but the initiative working with former illegal miners certainly is the most talked about,” he said.

To rapturous applause, Athens Mine took their place amongst the pantheon of super organisations in the area of giving back to the community.

Working in harmony with the community whilst also being respectful of the poor and marginalised by not pushing them away, but offering solutions-based ideas in the face of what could have been a volatile and dangerous standoff between the mine and desperate young informal sector players in mining, CSR Network Executive Director Willard Ruzawo handed over the award with ever glowing praise.

covid-19

“We have offered a solution that many can also emulate in their situations as a best practice. In the face of Covid-19 and diminishing returns for families, this is something they can learn from us and take beyond

Chirumhanzu district as it is a workable model,” Phiri said.

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Athens Mine also offered free services to disinfect schools and public places to lower the risk of infection, something for which they were also saluted on the night.

“We pledge to continue working hand in glove with the community to ensure a safe space for all of us and harmony between us and the community. We do it not for awards but it is always something worth a smile if we go on to be rewarded for our efforts,” he added.