GOLD MINE (LUFAFA) RE-OPENS AS WE EVADE ANOTHER EGG ON THE FACE

It was just another lazy Sunday morning where I learnt with excitement that Lufafa Mine in the Northern Hhohho region has re-opened for operations. One thing that struck my interest was nothing other than the fact that it was closed down recently following mismanagement on the operations.

I don’t care what such a comment means but it is of interests of how much gold deposits found its feet following the ailing mismanagement of the country’s prized mineral. It is not only the people responsible for the mining who need to be worried of such issues , but even us the ordinary citizens who always have the legitimate expectation of getting employment on local mines rather than the Gupta polluted zones.

As we welcome the mine’s operations let us hope the country’s environmental authority has issued a proper certification towards the operation of the mine. There are neighbouring homesteads who rely on the water source from the Lufafa mountains because in a s far as I remember there has been no water/river bank wall constructed in order to ensure that the Emaswati in the neighbouring communities receive clean and uncontaminated water.

It is very funny that even the report from the country’s so-called leading newspaper could not report of the process which were adhered to ensure that environmental and mineral laws were observed as the mining in the country is just a legacy issue which does get the attention it deserves.

Whilst we can celebrate and frown at the same time at the re-opening of the mine, it is high  time the Government of Eswatini ensures that we domesticate the ratified international and regional instruments, including the harmonisation of the African Mining Vision of 2009.  Such policies within SADC could ensure that issues of the movement of people across the borders and the declaration of TB in the mines would be speedily addressed as there is an existing SADC Code of Conduct.

It is of interest that I call upon the Government to ensure that mine workers within the Kingdom of Eswatini are accorded high standards of labour practise and be enumerated based on the standards of the  regional wage bill for all mine workers.

LET US NOT ALSO FORGET THE PLIGHT OF THE EX-MINERS

Ex-miners are extremely vulnerable.

•      Generally  from rural areas ; ex-miners; their families and communities

•      Hereditary cultures

•      Low education levels

•      Weak health systems

•      Poor referral linkages to mining health services

EX MINERS HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO:

·        Poor living conditions

·        Exposure to silica dust

·        HIV

·        Migrant labourers return home infected with diseases which expose their families to transmission .