By A Correspondent -Young people and community organisations in Bikita have stepped up a collective call, urging Bikita Minerals to implement the adopted local employment quota system fully.

They stress that communities hosting large-scale investments should be the primary beneficiaries of jobs, skills development, and infrastructure.

Youth Empowerment and Skills Development Association (YESDA), together with local residents’ groups, said the mine had previously adopted a framework prioritising local employment, particularly for casual and low-skilled positions, but implementation has remained inconsistent. They argue that locals continue to be sidelined despite the mine operating within their communities.

The renewed call follows a recent gathering at the mine premises where young people from surrounding wards sought engagement with management over recruitment concerns. Although the protests were peaceful, they highlighted long‑standing frustration among youths who say they regularly attend interviews without feedback, while individuals from other districts are reportedly engaged for similar roles.

Community members emphasised that their demands are not driven by political interests but by shared social and economic concerns cutting across different backgrounds. “This mine is part of our community, and our expectations are simple: fair access to jobs, transparency in recruitment, and tangible local development,” said one resident.

YESDA noted that previous consultations between community representatives and the company had acknowledged the importance of reserving a significant portion of employment opportunities for locals. However, the organisation said there is now an urgent need to translate those understandings into practice, supported by clear, transparent recruitment processes.

In addition to employment, residents called for stronger investment in local infrastructure and skills development programmes to ensure long-term benefits beyond short-term jobs. They stressed that inclusive engagement platforms involving the mine, traditional leaders, youths, and community organisations could help resolve grievances before tensions escalate.

The situation at Bikita Minerals reflects broader community expectations around lithium mining in the area, where residents have consistently called for meaningful local participation in the economic opportunities created by mineral extraction. As seen in previous YESDA reports, communities remain hopeful that constructive dialogue will lead to outcomes that balance investment growth with community wellbeing and shared prosperity.