Zimbabwe’s mining authorities have acknowledged a growing infrastructure problem in Hwange: vehicles transporting coal are damaging roads.

The issue came up in Parliament during a discussion on mineral leakages and value addition.

Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando’s ministry said the country wants mining areas to develop industries around the minerals being extracted rather than simply moving raw materials from one point to another.

Turning to Hwange, the Minister said:

“There are a lot of vehicles that are being used and they are damaging roads by ferrying the coal.”

The Government is now looking for investors to promote value addition in Hwange, with the Minister saying coal could be processed into products including fertiliser, petroleum fuels and cement.

But the parliamentary admission raises another question for a province where coal mining is a major economic activity:

Who pays for the roads carrying the heavy coal trucks?

The Minister said Government is also considering measures requiring large mines operating in rural areas to work with rural district councils and communities to repair roads they use.

He said the Government wants mining companies and local authorities to work together on road infrastructure.

For Hwange communities, the issue goes beyond mining production.

It is about whether the infrastructure surrounding the mining industry is keeping pace with the traffic it generates — and whether communities are benefiting from the economic activity happening around them