By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Civil groups advocating for transparency in the mining sector have urged government to codify the social license concept to address growing negative public sentiment against Chinese business operations in Zimbabwe.
In a joint press statement released by twenty six Zimbabwe Civil Society groups, led by the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) the stakeholders spoke out against ‘investment projects that disempower and impoverish our people.’
The civic players said adoption of such legal framework will help in monitoring for compliance as well as ensuring shared development with communities in resource rich areas.
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“It is important to note that Zimbabweans are so learned to be able to distinguish exploitative, destructive development from progressive development without having to be influenced by anyone,” read part of the statement.
Green Governance Zimbabwe Trust (GGZT) director Frank Mphalo said growing negative public sentiment should be indicative of community perception.
GGZT is also part of the coalition of civic society groups which endorsed the statement urging the government to promote responsible investment.
Mphalo said public opinion is informed by a sustained observation and analysis of the Chinese investment patterns across sectors as largely manipulative of locals.
“Public opinion is not fickle, it is nurtured over time by critical observation and Chinese investors have not helped their own case by being defensive.”
