Mining firms urged to spread social responsibility programmes

MINING companies in Zimbabwe have been urged to spread their corporate social responsibility programmes to agriculture as part of efforts to complement the Government's empowerment programme through the Community Share Ownership Scheme.
Addressing about 600 members of the Zimbabwe  Farmers' Union at the organisations' 72nd Annual Congress at Bulawayo Polytechnic's School ofTourism and Hospitality yesterday, the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Dr Obert Mpofu, encouraged mining companies to channel resources to the agricultural sector, saying the two sectors co-exist.
"The ministry encourages mining companies to undertake corporate social responsibility programmes that support the communities in which they operate in. I therefore urge mining companies to support the productivity of small grains and livestock in line with the ZFU Annual Congress theme of"Promoting livestock and small grains productivity for sustainable household food security and incomes" through corporate social responsibility," said Dr Mpofu.
"The two sectors co-exist and can be used to benefit the community. Mining and agriculture have a similar role to play in improving livelihoods in communities," said Dr Mpofu, who is also a farmer in Umguza District.
Dr Mpofu said with a contribution of 60 percent export earnings and 13 percent to the Gross Domestic Product last year, the mining sector remained one of the key economic mainstays in Zimbabwe playing a pivotal role in driving the country's economy.
He said since mines are located in rural areas, they are the drivers for community development and should provide security to the agricultural sector.
"Since mines are located in the remote rural areas, they are the drivers of community development through infrastructure such as roads, schools, hospitals, electricity, water and support for adjacent agriculture projects," said Dr Mpofu.
Farmers appealed to the minister to be assisted on accessing loans from banks to which he said they should challenge leadership.
Meanwhile, Dr Mpofu who is a member of the ZFU pledged to help the union with financial resources to host the congress in Matabeleland North, saying it was counter developmental for the host province to have the congress in Bulawayo.
"We are products of ZFU and we are what we are because of this association. As politicians we should support it and for those who were supposed to be here and did not come, elections are coming and they will lose because we cannot afford to undermine such a big union which bore us all.
"I am a former executive member of ZFU and I am proud to be part of it and to mention that I will not leave it. Matabeleland North farmers should have consulted before opting to have the congress in Bulawayo. ZFU is a people's organisation and it should go to the people. We have the best facilities in Victoria Falls and with consultation we could have assisted you have the congress there," said Dr Mpofu to the appreciation of farmers.
ZFU president Mr Silas Hungwe accepted the offer and said the next edition will be held in the resort town.