The Right to Minerals as a Tool for Livelihoods Development in Chakari, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The research was premised on the nexus between mining and mining activities vis-à-vis livelihood development in Chikari, a mining village located some 36km from the city of Kadoma which is predominantly a farming community that is also rich in gold deposits. It also sought to assess the bearing that other mining related activities have on people and their livelihoods. The study intended to dissect and analyse the current government mineral policy and other mining related policies’ impact on people’s livelihoods. This research hence sought to augment available literature by dissecting the various variables of economic development, however zeroing on livelihood development. The research was informed by the property rights theory which focuses rights to use, to earn income from, and to transfer or exchange the assets and resources, formed and enforced by political entities. Primary and secondary, qualitative and quantitative data collection methods were utilised in the process of gathering data. The research made use of a case study and such quantitative and qualitative methods like questionnaires, documentary search and interviews among others were also used as data collection methodologies. Non-probability sampling techniques such as purposive or judgemental sampling were utilised in order to select relevant respondents in the process of research. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results from the field of research reveal that the majority of the people in Chakari who are engaged in mining activities do not have legal mining rights. Due to the absence of these mining rights, the people who do not have mining claims are highly mobile and practice artisanal mining methods. Even though they can sufficiently cater for their families’ needs and wants, owing to the stability of gold prices, their livelihoods remain vulnerable and under threat as they always face imminent arrest anytime due to the illegality of their operations. Therefore, there is need for a holistic review of the Mines and Mineral Act of Zimbabwe in particular its tariff and fees regime which need to be pro-poor and opencast mining on all prime agricultural land must be outlawed. Administratively, the Mines offices should be decentralized to district levels and sub-offices should be established at service centers as a way of limiting travelling hustles and easing of access to services