Africa-Press – Botswana. Green Loop ESG Consultants (GLEC) technical director, Lindiwe Modise, has raised the alarm about mining companies that leave abandoned pits when they wrap up their activities.
She was speaking on Tuesday at the UN Global Compact First Open House held in collaboration GLEC. The event featured training for journalists on how to report on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues.
Modise said the mining sector had grave ESG issues around the responsibilities of mining companies. The technical director’s concerns stem from mines that close in the country without proper rehabilitation, leaving behind numerous hazardous such as open, abandoned pits.
Modise said the abandoned pits have become death traps for wildlife and unsuspecting individuals, including children.
“Botswana has issues of mines closing and not being rehabilitated. “There are so many open pits in Botswana, and you find that wildlife falls in these pits. “Children fall in these pits and die and people also go missing in these pits,” she said.
Modise also underscored the urgent need for comprehensive ESG reporting. She encouraged journalists to ask the right questions in their articles in order to support a journalistic approach that not only acknowledges challenges but also offers practical solutions.
“Are we asking the right questions when we report on ESG?” she said. “When you report back on ESG, you can identify a challenge, but it should be one that comes back with a solution. “That is sustainable journalism.”
Modise urged the media and other stakeholders to prioritise ESG responsibilities for the well-being of both the environment and local communities.
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