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Nokusa Masuku Chronicle Reporter
ONLY $29 million has been released out of $124 million pledged by mining companies towards Community Share Ownership Trusts (CSOS) since 2013, a government official revealed yesterday. Speaking during the 3rd Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba organised by Zimbabwe Environment Law Association at a hotel in Bulawayo, deputy director in the Ministry of Youth Development Indigenisation and Empowerment Tafi Greemas Mashonganyika said $29,4 million has been released by 404 companies. He said $5,25 million was spent on developmental projects by the CSOT since 2013.

He called on all companies in the mining sector to make contributions to maximise development in the communities.
“As long as you are exploiting natural resources you are expected to make a contribution towards community development. Natural capital is being exploited without the involvement of local communities. Very little or nothing is occurring to the communities,” he said.

Mashonganyika said there were 71 CSOS in all administrative districts and only 17 were operational.
Mashonganyika highlighted that 70 percent of the country’s population lives in the rural areas which were historically neglected in terms of development and were perceived as reservoirs for cheap labour.