Mining God's Way

CONTENTS

Introduction 1

PART ONE:
Towards an Understanding of Mining and God’s Ways 7

PART TWO:
Quests for Justice 29
The Quest for Economic Justice 35
The Quest for Environmental Justice 47

PART THREE
The Quest for Mineral Resource Justice under God 63

Conclusion 67

Postscript 71
Endnotes 73

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Terry Garde has more than 45 years of mining experience, gained mostly in Zimbabwe, including aspects of technical, managerial, consulting, and mining education. After retiring from the large‐scale sector, his Ph.D. researched the artisanal and small‐scale sector using a framework of practical theology. Terry sees himself as fortunate in being able to integrate his vocation in mining with his Christian beliefs. He is also blessed in still being married to his first love, Barbara, and in their ever‐extending family of adult offspring, spouses, and grandchildren.

This study investigates dimensions of social, economic, and environmental justice in East Africa concerning artisanal and small‐scale mining. It focuses on how perspectives from ordinary Christian miners’ theologies, combined with biblical theologies of justice, can be applied in practice towards development of the sector. Some of the strongest bonds in typical rural communities are found in churches and faithful Christians can be engaged in overtly faith‐based initiatives towards development. The research serves as an ideal strategic approach to improving livelihoods for artisanal miners.

Terry Garde has done some excellent and very important doctoral research, working closely with some artisanal gold miners in East Africa. I am delighted that this highly informative and insightful research is now seeing the light of day. The theme of mineral resource justice, built on firm Christian foundations, is of great relevance for gospel‐based mission in today's world.
Revd. Dr Andrew Hartropp: Anglican church minister in Leicestershire, England; Associate Fellow of The Centre for Enterprise, Market and Ethics (Oxford); formerly Research Tuto and Ph.D. Stage Leader, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies.

I clearly remember the day I found myself at the bottom of an informal mining shaft about 40m below the surface of the earth. The tunnel had been dug by hand and a slight incline. We had to sit because it was not even big enough to kneel in. It was humid and it was dark. I was scared. How did I get there? The answer is man called Terry Garde. I was the Pastor of a church in Harare Zimbabwe and Terry was one of my elders and a friend. Terry is a deep thinker and as leaders of Northside Community Church we had many deep conversations about God and God’s Church. Terry was also a miner, involved in a Christian Chrome producing company. He had a deep concern for the informal miners who supplied his company. So, we set out to learn about these ‘madhoba‐dhoba’ miners, both above and below the ground. From this came Mining God’s Way and the Miner’s Church. As Terry explains in this book, we were not very successful here in Zimbabwe. But I am pleased to say that from the ashes of failure, Mining God’s Way has been reborn. It is such a good story and I know that it will impact the lives of many informal miners who work so hard in such dangerous conditions for so little. And it will impact personal, family, community, and national economies too. I am pleased to also be part of restarting Mining God’s Way in Zimbabwe again. It is what God’s Church should be doing – so we are going to try again. I thank God for Terry and applaud him on his Ph.D. and this book and pray that God will use him and this book to transform the lives of many in Africa.
Revd. Gary Cross: Senior Pastor, Northside Community Church, Harare, Zimbabwe