Residents Block Construction company from extracting quarry for free

Residents of Manganganga in Lupane joined forces against a construction company that sought to extract quarry from their village without consent from the locals. According to the residents, a number of construction companies are extracting quarry from Lupane for commercial purposes yet the communities have no benefit from the natural resource.

The truck, clearly marked with the construction company name was stopped by the residents before it could even begin loading the quarry. After failing to explain where he was from or where the quarry was going to, the driver was forced to compromise with the residents.

“We are well aware that for years now, there are construction companies that come to get quarry stones and sand here. These are companies from outside Lupane who get it free here and go and sell it for a killing in Bulawayo and other towns but we feel it’s about time we also started benefiting from it as well,” said Themba Ngwenya.  

The former councillor who was amongst the residents that intercepted the truck expressed the need for such companies to start ploughing back to Manganganga and other Lupane communities where they benefit from quarry and timber.

“We understand that these are natural resources that do not necessarily belong to anyone but the fact that they are located in our communities means we should benefit from them. So while these people will not buy it from us, they need to do something that will benefit our communities in exchange for the quarry and timber. We should actually be able to control our own resources, “said Libert Nyoni, the former councillor for Jotsholo ward 13.

 The driver of the truck was forced to compromise with the residents as it was evident he would return with an empty truck. He was eventually allowed to load the quarry on condition that he first transported river sand to the local school for its construction.

The incidence was witnessed by the NYDT who had just concluded a Constitutional Feedback meeting with youths from Manganganga and Ngondo villages. During the meeting, the youths had interrogated the systems of government and how it would help improve the distribution of resources, as well as the Bill of rights.