by Rudo Saungweme

Community Share Ownership Trusts (CSOTs) from across the country are advocating for the merging of all CSOT to form one trust to be called Association of Community Share Ownership Trusts of Zimbabwe (ACSOTZ) which will see some communities without platinum or diamond also benefitting from minerals extracted from other areas.

The proposal was tabled by Zvishavane CSOT Chief Executive Officer, Partson Jinga while addressing a CSOT meeting in Goromonzi, last week. He went on to call for the amendment of the Finance Act of 2018, to accommodate the proposed changes.

“As CSOT members we need the Finance Act of 2018 to be reversed. This is because the Act only recognises diamond and platinum where mining entities are obliged to cede capital and remit a portion of proceeds to the local communities they operate from.

 “There is need to work together to ensure Government reverses the act to cater for the communities without platinum and diamond. To achieve this, we must collectively work together and form one trust called Association of Community Share Ownership Trusts of Zimbabwe,” Jinga said.

Jinga went on to present a ACSOTZ draft constitution which is meant to promote the interests of CSOTs.

Goromonzi, Mutoko, Bindura, Bubi, Mberengwa, Tongogara, Mhondoro-Ngezi-Chegutu-Zvimba, Zvishavane, Umguza and Gwanda CSOTs were in agreement with the proposed amendments to the Finance Act.

President Mnangagwa during his 2018 campaign trail said people should now know that resources that are extracted from their respective areas should benefit locals. He added that this was the only way to increase the assets of each community.