adminRay Bande Senior Reporter
Some 10km of wide dust road from Hot Springs Turn-off along the Mutare-Masvingo highway leads to Chiadzwa diamond area, while on the other side, 50km of yet another dusty and bumpy road leads to the same area.
On both ends, there is no signage whatsoever that informs a visitor that he or she is about to gain entrance into an area that is home to internationally acclaimed precious gems.
A heap of concrete stones, dumped and probably forgotten years gone by, still lie by the roadside near a broken down bridge near Gomorefu Village just a few kilometres away from the actual mining area.
Although some villagers were relocated, those who are still there are now accustomed to heavy security fencing and military patrols, which have cut these communities off from their traditional grazing or farming lands.
Inhaling dust from mining activities as well as the heavy traffic to and from the diamond fields that pass through these communities has become a norm.
Scores of their cattle and livestock have also died mysteriously in the years after the diamond mining companies began their operations, and many suspect the river water they drink has been contaminated and has led to their animals being poisoned.
To make matters worse, the cost of basic commodities have soared just because the same shops also serve those working in the diamond fields.
Sights of donkey drawn scotch carts ferrying the sick to the nearest, yet far apart, health care centres are common as one traverses the length and breadth of the sun baked soils of Marange.
This is the summary of the reality on the lack of infrastructural development and an excruciating way of life that meets the eye on one’s trip to Marange in general and the Chiadzwa diamond mining locale in particular.
Villagers’ hopes of better lives that came with the discovery of diamonds were high, yet ill-fated.
The establishment of the Zimunya-Marange Community Share Ownership Trust could have been the answer to the challenges of impoverished villagers in the area.
But alas, it turned out be a monumental dupe!The Zimunya-Marange CSOT operates within the Mutare West constituency, comprising the entire Marange area and areas as far as Zimunya, Sakubva, Burma, Chigodora, 22 Miles, St Welberts Odzi and Arda Transau.The Zimunya-Marange CSOT, set up to benefit the impoverished and dislocated communities who found themselves living on top of what was once described as one of the world’s richest alluvial diamond fields , failed to live up to expectation.
At its official launch in 2012, the trust received initial pledges of US$10 million from each of the five diamond mining companies, and at its launch President Mugabe was made to receive a dummy cheque for $1.5 million.
Late last year in Parliament, Deputy Youth Minister, Mathias Tongofa, revealed that only $250,000 had been released by Marange Resources and a further $200,000 had been paid by Mbada Diamonds to the Zimunya Marange CSOT project, a drop in the ocean vis-a-vis the pledge made in 2012.
In light of this, the envisaged consolidation of mining companies in Chiadzwa, operating under direct Government supervision and control, is expected to help give the locals benefit from the resources that are being mined in their area. That there is 6 800 hactares reserved for the community and is yet to be exploited leaves the right thinking with the hope that finally the Marange community will enjoy the value of diamonds in their area.In his address to village heads, company representatives, Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation officials, Mutare West legislator Dr Chris Mushohwe bemoaned the reluctance by companies to live by their word.
Dr Mushohwe expressed hope that the 6 800 hactares that were reserved for the locals in Chiadzwa will reflect on the operations of the envisaged amalgamated diamond mining venture. “We are aware that there are people who are still residing in this area because they have not been relocated. These people are now left without farming or grazing land.
Some of them had their houses damaged because of the blasting of rocks done during mining activities going on.“They are leading a miserable life yet the companies operating here are paying a deaf ear to their plight. It is sad that this is going on after Anjin Investments, one of the companies here, handed over a $1.5 million dummy cheque to the Head of State. They lied to the President and it is now four years down the line, no money has been given to the Zimunya Marange community share ownership scheme.
“We are now saying the consolidations of mines will help in terms of accountability. It was quite cumbersome for Government to monitor all the activities here in Chiadzwa because the companies were playing hide and seek.
Now that we are going to be in control as Government, we will ensure that Marange people benefit from these God given gems,’’ he said.The minister said there was 6 800 hactares reserved for the people of Marange as a mining concession that he hope would also be taken note of in the transition to consolidation of mining companies.
“The good thing is that ZMDC actually noted that on their map and I was made to understand the area has not yet been mined. I have no doubt that this will see us benefit as locals,” said Dr Mushohwe.
ZMDC board chairman Mr David Murangari echoed Dr Mushohwe’s sentiments saying he was utterly shocked by the state of affairs in Marange area given the background of diamond mining activities. “When I came in as the ZMDC board chairman we visited this whole are and I was actually taken aback with the lack of infrastructural development.
It is painful, to be polite.
“There is nothing to show for the diamonds that have been extracted here. It is only about exploitation and virtually nothing in return for the local community.“I still question the conscience of those people who were given the privilege to do diamond mining here. Where is their conscience?
I wonder! Especially when I also understand that there are Zimbabweans among those who were mining here. Are they not ashamed?
This is shocking,” said Mr Murangari.
Online Reporter