Diamond firms up construction

affected by their operations as Government insisted on a timeline for the completion of the project.
People who are affected by the mining operations would be relocated to the Arda Transau Farm here.
Chinese company Anjin Investments, which started official mining in Chiadzwa early this year, has already completed 241 houses and has relocated 141 families.
The company has set a target of 447 houses before the end of the year.
Anjin Investments would also construct a water treatment plant along Odzi River to ease water woes in the area.
Anjin Investments project manager Mr Ni Jun said the water plant equipment was already in transit from China. The Chinese company has also completed the construction of seven blocks for the primary school at the Transau Farm. Those who were relocated were given US$1 000 per family as a disturbance allowance and some groceries.
Mbada Diamonds has completed 50 houses for its initial phase while Marange Mineral Resources has constructed nine houses.
The two companies are still to relocate people despite being the first to mine diamonds in Chiadzwa. Mbada Diamonds has an immediate target of 480 houses.
Speaking after a tour of the Arda Transau Farm by a team of permanent secretaries, Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office the President and Cabinet Retired Colonel Christian Katsande said: “We come here as a relocation committee of the people from the diamonds fields.”
The committee was established by President Mugabe and is chaired by the Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda.
“We are delighted by the work you are doing here, that is, the construction of houses and we are happy that you have already relocated 141 families.”
This, he said, paved the way for Anjin to concentrate on its operations in Chiadzwa.
“We encourage you (Anjin Investments) to continue working within the timelines you have set and I think this will motivate your partners in the diamond sector.
“Certainly we appreciate the work you are doing and that you have employed local people.”
Mr Ni said they were not only employing locals but were also imparting construction skills to them.
“We have completed 241 houses and have already moved in 141 households. We want to build a water plant and the equipment is already being shipped,” he said.