Hwange Colliery Company (HCC) is set to evict at least 52 families in Lubimbi, Binga, Matabeleland North after securing a grant to extract coal from their community.
Before now, the community was facing eviction threats to pave way for the construction of the Gwayi-Shangani Dam. The planned construction puts over 2,000 persons at risk of displacement. Lubimbi ward councillor, Chrispen Munkuli confirmed the developments.
“Mining by Hwange will evacuate 52 homesteads, but what we do not know is where the families are going. We are also facing evacuation over the Gwayi-Shangani Dam and nothing is clear so far on the evacuation areas,” Munkuli said.
“As a community, we have discussed the issue and agreed that we will not agree to the evacuation. However, we are advised that the mining company is now ready to mine.”
Munkuli said they were waiting for the district development co-ordinator (DDC) to address the residents on the matter.
The Lubimbi community was resettled from the Madilo area between Shangani and Kana rivers in 1945 to pave way for a Cold Storage Commission project.
Some were moved to the area during the construction of the Kariba Dam around 1956, and the others came from Sinamatela area around 1950 and were moved to make way for the establishment of the Hwange National Park.
“It has not yet reached that level of evacuation but l am aware that HCC was given a mining claim long back. The colliery is supposed to go to the community and advise the villagers,” Kabome said.
“We have not yet engaged the community. We will update you, because there will be certain things we expect the HCC to do for the community.”
HCC public relations manager, Beauty Mutombe said they were engaging the community.
“There are no evacuations at this stage, we are engaging the community through the office of the DDC but so far we have not yet done anything on site,” she said.
In 2020, President Mnangagwa concluded a tour of the Hwange Colliery in the Chaba Mine, where he expressed his approval for the improvements made in production, adding that the country had no reason to import coal while having such abundant reserves.