The Role of Community Share Ownership Trust in Enhancing Community Development in Bindura, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The study examined the role of the Bindura Community Share Ownership Trust (BCSOT) in promoting community development in the district of Bindura, Zimbabwe. The study was motivated by the current surge and proliferation in extractive industries and sustainable development. Using a mixed research design of quantitative and qualitative methodologies, the study sought to evaluate the socio-economic and political development that emanated from Bindura Community Ownership Trust ( BCSOT). Data was sought from 60 participants using questionnaires and key informant interviews from Bindura wards 2 and 12, Community Share Ownership Trust secretariat, traditional leaders, the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in extractive sector. The study examined some projects implemented under BCSOT in rural constituencies where 75 projects have implement ed in the health, education sector, water and sanitation and road infrastructure. The findings of the study revealed that the CSOT of Bindura is operational with a number of projects in place but the development is uneven due to involvement of politicians in the projects. The activities of the CSOT remain captured by politicians of the ruling party and some members of the community are left out of the activities that are non-partisan to ruling party. Several challenges emerged that inhibit sustainable development using the CSOT such as lack of consultation between the CSOT secretariat and the community members on development projects, lack of transparency on the disbursement from the CSOT board of trustees and its use. Therefore, participation of locals is poor which also result in projects failure. The study recommends that transparency is needed in the activities of the CSOT, depoliticisation of the projects, increased stakeholder collaboration between government, local governance, traditional leaders, CSOs and increase sustainability and successful welfare gain from natural resources in Bindura.