Zvishavane youths have implored the government to allocate them some mining claims in the district so that they can positively contribute to the national economy.
The youths raised the issue at the United Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights meeting held in Zvishavane where the young people said failure to allocate them claims was forcing some of them to engage in illegal mining activities.
The youths also called upon the government to maintain a watchdog role in the allocation of mining claims saying mining authorities benefit at their expense.
The government recently acknowledged that there are groups which remain marginalised in the allocation of mining claims and pledged to continue reduce size of claims held by big conglomerates that are lying idle and redistribute to needy groups such as artisanal miners, youths and women, a measure that will assist in achieving the target of US$12 billion from the sector by 2023.
