Contribution of the Bindura Community Share Ownership Trust to Rural Development in Bindura Rural District Council of Zimbabwe

Abstract

This research analysed the contribution of the Bindura Community Share Ownership Trust (BCSOT) to Bindura Rural District Council (BRDC) in Mashonaland Central Province of Zimbabwe. Key informant interviews and the survey questionnaire were used for primary data collection while secondary sources such as the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act of 2007 and Statutory Instrument of 2010 which established the Community Share Ownership Trusts were analysed. The research found that 45 projects had been embarked on by the BCSOT. These projects included water, health, education and roads. It concludes that these projects had greatly contributed to rural development in Bindura Rural District Council. The respondents indicated that if CSOTs are to succeed, there should local community involvement in the identification of projects. The research recommended that the BCSOT should also establish small to medium enterprises and other income-generating projects in order to improve rural livelihoods.

Policy Inconsistencies and Community Development

“…When asked about what the situation was like before the emergence of the Trust, 76% of the participants stated that only a few individuals were employed at the adjacent growth points and in Turf Town whereas more than 75% were unemployed leading to masses migrating to urban areas seeking for employment and a better life. According to Kurebwa et al (2014), empowerment policies should ensure that ownership and control of resources and factors of production is transferred into the hands of the previously marginalised indigenous people. ZMNCZCSOT as an empowerment tool has therefore managed to reduce unemployment rates in its three districts to mention ward 11 in particular where it started a brick laying company, Turf Moulding Company, for women who manufacture and sell bricks.…”

“…Guided by the enabling legislation as detailed in the Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act (IEEA), the starting point was the mining sector (Tsvakanyi, 2012). This was based on the reality that mining companies have been, for years, extracting and shipping out natural resources (minerals) without giving anything to the locals; the custodians of the resources as propounded by Kurebwa et al (2014) who states that even though Zimbabwe is endowed with huge natural resources such as reserves of coal, uranium, gas, lithium, gold, antimony, iron, steel, and chrome and is the world's second largest platinum producer after South Africa, much of it has been exported to help develop and improve the livelihoods of foreigners leaving the indigenous people of Zimbabwe especially those living in rural areas amongst the poorest in the world. According to this Act, all mining companies were therefore to cede at least 10% ownership of their companies' produce to local communities.…”

“…The main objective of CSOTs is to readdress the socio-economic deprivation and disadvantages that were imposed against the rural communities by colonialism and racial discrimination through broadening the economic base involving the majority indigenous Zimbabweans in the mainstream economy. In this light, (Matsa and Masimbiti, 2014) and Kurebwa et al (2014) concur in that indigenization programs through the Community Share Ownership Trusts in Zimbabwe should therefore be viewed as a political means of correcting the colonial injustices and imbalances of the colonial past. In compliance with Zimbabwe's indigenization and empowerment law, ZIMPLATS was the first mining company in Zimbabwe to launch a Community Share Ownership Scheme in terms of the controversial Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act, the ZIMPLATS Mhondoro/ Ngezi/Chegutu/Zvimba Community Share Ownership Trust on 13 October 2011 (Tsvakanyi, 2012).…”