29 Jul 2018

Some farmers at Masuakoloi lands near Palapye are against the Shumba Energy’s proposal to mine coal in their area.

The farmers informed MP for Palapye, Mr Moiseraele Goya during a kgotla meeting he addressed at Masuakoloi lands recently that they were against the establishment of a mine in their area.

They said Shumba Coal Mine should carry out their mining activities underground and leave farmers to continue with their agricultural activities.

They said the crop yield at Masuakoloi was impressive hence capable of feeding the market in Palapye.

They said the proposed mine was going to affect agricultural production in Palapye area because Segakwana, Setatse and part of Leupana farms would be affected.

One of the farmers, Mr George Serumola proposed that Shumba Energy compensated Masuakoloi farmers with land for agricultural purpose, adding in that way farmers would be able to continue with their agricultural activities.

For his part, a representative from Shumba Energy Mr Comfort Molosiwa said after the Environmental Impact Assessment had been conducted, final plans would be communicated to the farmers.

He said the country had 200 billion tonnes of coal of which 2.4 billion tonnes was found at Masuakoloi, adding that establishing a mine in that area would create employment as well as help the country diversify its economy.

He said the proposed mine would bring business opportunities to Batswana, citing transportation business as tonnes of coal would be delivered to the market in South Africa.

He said Shumba Energy had no plans to build a mining town therefore employees of the mine would be commuting from Palapye, which would improve the local economy.

For his part, MP Goya informed Masuakoloi farmers that the government was committed to improving the livelihood of Batswana therefore the proposed mine would help the government achieve this goal.

He said the proposed mine would not only improve the local economy but would also create employment for the locals.

Most farmers in Masuakoloi are subsistence farmers and their crop produce is not enough to feed the entire Palapye because of unreliable rainfall, he said.

Mr Goya said Orapa and Letlhakane diamond mines were established after the relocation of communities that lived in those areas, adding that diamond revenue had brought developments such as hospitals and schools for Batswana.

He said Masuakoloi should not refuse to hand over their land because the mine would be more beneficial, adding that their lives would be improved for the better.

He also added that Palapye had been declared a Special Economic Zone because of coal therefore this would enable the setting up of industries that would process coal thus help diversify the economy and create employment for the nation. ENDS