{Nyamasheke district is one of districts with a high concentration of the mining companies which carrying out exploration and mining of minerals occurring in the area which are mainly Cassitelite, Coltan, Wolfram, Gold and Sapphire. In recent past few years, mining companies have been sensitized to improve mining techniques leading to the increase in mineral production where by increasing company revenues and increase surrounding people liverhood. In these days, tangible results are being observed all around mining areas. CODINYA cooperative has very quickly adopted the approach and their achievements are of great importance to the surrounding community.}
CODINYA cooperative started mining operations in 2007, mining Cassitelite and coltan illegally as they had no mining licensed. At that time, they used the authorization of the executive secretary of the sector Cyato. After they get information from the Nyamasheke district assistance, that they need to have a legal personality, they used the RCA certificate to keep mining until 2010 where they have got the Mining prospection licence. In 2012, they have got a Mining licence of Cassitelite, Coltan, Wolfram. Actually, CODINYA cooperative has 24 members and actually employing a minimum of 170 casual labor in periods where there is not a lot to do. Besides that, they have themselves bought their excavator helping them to shift from 2 tones per month to 6 tones of minerals per month with hope of increasing the production achieved so far.
As the production increases, local people praise relationship which is between the cooperative and the local communities as the Cooperative has built a nursery school in Cyato sector, Murambi cell Muremure village. Local residents and CODINYA employees are reported to earn money helping them to pay basic need as around 2/3 of the total amount of the cooperative income due to mineral exploitation is coming back to the local community. In addition, CODINYA has also managed to build a 1.5 Km of potable water captured from Gakenke water source which is being benefited by Muremure and Kamonyi village.
During the Hon. Minister of State in charge of mining, Imena Evode ’s visit to the cooperative, He haired the achievement of the cooperative and recommended to think about sustainable mining by improving techniques of mineral extraction from the soils as it is actually manually done causing a big loss in thin minerals. The environment has also to be seriously protected by stabilizing the mined soils as the area is very vulnerable to the soil erosion. He urged cooperative members to keep strengthening a good relationship with local residents and help them toward a better future.
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