The Ministry Intervenes on Kolo Fence Row

     By Rorisang Mahlo

 

Kolo Community Gathering 

In an attempt to avoid unnecessary conflict of interest between the villagers and Kolo Mine, the Ministry of Mining organised a public gathering as a platform to provide for the voice of the voiceless. The gathering was held at Kolo Ha Petlane on Friday the 18^th May, 2018 where all Stakeholder Ministries, the Local Council, the Civil Society Organisations and nearby villages were represented.

It is in this gathering where the former Mining Principal Secretary (PS) Mr. Soaile Mochaba, addressed the villagers and explained that the Mine was within its boundaries to extend their production area as it has been granted in their Mining Lease in the year 2011.

In his address PS Mining explained that “it is  a norm or a common practice in the diamond producing company to start by fencing only certain selected portion of a leased mining area, and later enlarge to the large area it had been allocated for as its operation may deem it fit to,” said Mr Mochaba.

In addition the Senior Mining Engineer Mr. Mohato Moima showed that villagers whose livelihoods would be affected by the mine`s operations (fence extension in this regard) would have to be compensated accordingly.

Hon. Putsoane- The Mascadel -MP-Kolo

On behalf of the people of Kolo Constituency and as Member of the Parliament, Hon. Putsoane Leeto- “The Mascadel” as nicknamed by his age mates, strongly indicated that “we as Kolo host Community are really not against Reskol Diamond Mine,  we are only not happy in the manner in which the extension practice was conducted,” said Hon. Putsoane.

Adding that “in this regard the Reskol Mine Operator wanted to portray us as delinquents while they have decided to ignore the proper procedures of tempering with the land though they are still holding the mining rights to use it,” said Hon. Putsoane. He insisted that “please do the honours that you are supposed to do and see if this community will not corporate with you,” added “The Mascadel”.

Most importantly, the majority of the locals were blaming the mining company of failing to give them a priority on the issues of employment and compensation for the land use that they have forfeited.  

However, the Reskol Diamond mine Manager did not deny the blame but simply clarified the general misunderstanding that, they might have started their commercial mining while they are not. “Reskol is currently at the Trial Mining Stage and we are just about to complete our trial stage. We are now only left with one kind of a Kimberlite, out of the four that we were supposed to take for sampling,” said Lehloholono Lesia.

Former PS-Mining- MR. Mochaba

In order to put this matter under control, PS Mining stood up to promise the villagers that their grievance has been heard and noted. “Therefore for the quick solution of this issue, I will give a directive to the Ministry`s Mines Community Resolution Team, to help us get to the bottom of this issue,” announced PS Mining. Specifically he promised the community that a specific date will be communicated with all role player first and the anticipated sitting will either be by the end of month May, if not the first week of June 2018.

In a nutshell, the Ministry has identified certain areas of importance that needs to be addressed in order to curb the prevalent situation at Kolo. First the mine will have to demarcate all the 25 square Kilometers coordinates granted in their lease. Secondly, to advise Reskol Mine to consider the importance of using the inclusive decision making, particularly on the issues of concern to the local communities.

 Finally, this company is expected to complete its trial mining by December 2018 after a lengthy suspension of their trial operations earlier this year with the challenges of their diamond plant configuration machinery.