adminTHE recent gesture by Chiadzwa diamond mining concern, Mbada Diamonds, must be lauded by all progressive citizens, who see value in ploughing back to communities in which companies are operating.
Granted, every other progressive citizen would want to see infrastructure development other than food handouts but in this era of economic challenges, epitomised by a biting cash squeeze, one cannot underestimate the value of food donations to the elderly and the unemployed in our rural communities.
The diamond mining company usually donates foodstuffs to the villagers located in areas surrounding the area in which they operate in Chiadzwa as well as those relocated to the Arda-Transau area just outside Mutare, but recently Mbada Diamonds handed over maize-meal to all the villagers including those in areas where other companies are operating. 400 tonnes were handed over to the Chiadzwa community alone while the same amount of maize-meal will be distributed to all other communities in the diamond-rich area including those relocated to the Arda-Transau area. Lest we forget, this is the same diamond mining company that generously donated equipment to Mutare Provincial Hospital some time ago.
It is the same company that has donated to several public medical institutions around the country at a time when the state of affairs in our medical institutions is deplorable. Yes, it is the same diamond mining company that brought excitement to many through a lucrative football tournament that had benefits to other industries apart from the football fraternity. Two domestic Premiership clubs that reached the final of the Mbada Diamonds Cup last year earned close to US$500 000 in prize money after the giant mining firm upped the stakes in the third edition of the prestigious tournament.
The sponsors increased the prize money for the winners to US$130 000, adding US$10 000 to the previous year’s prize money. The 2013 Mbada Diamonds Cup champions also got a subsidy of US$110 000 to participate in the Caf Confederations Cup. This money catered for uniforms, accommodation, tracksuits and airfares. The runners-up in the 16-team tournament earned more in prize money, going home with a cheque for US$90 000. In itself it was a big hike from the previous year’s US$60 000 purse for the losing team in the final. There was also an upward variation for all the stages with teams that reached the semi-finals getting US$45 000 each.
The quarter-finalists received US$30 000 each.
The eight teams that fell by the wayside in the first round each got a club participation fee of US$15 000.
The question inevitably comes, where are the other companies as Mbada Diamonds alone fervently adhere to their corporate social responsibility policy? Cursory research will reveal that there are seven companies operating in Chiadzwa, namely Mbada Diamonds, Marange Resources, Anjin Investments, Diamond Mining Company, Jinan, Kusena and Gye Nyame.
They operate as joint ventures with, or are in one instance wholly owned by the Government through the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation. All the other companies doing business in Chiadzwa have not done anything worth writing home about in terms of corporate social responsibility. Mbada has set an example that none is willing to emulate, hence the need to find other ways of making all other companies emulate Mbada.
They should be reminded that corporate social responsibility is not something they should choose to embark on or not, it is a must!
While they continue siphoning diamonds from this drought prone area, villagers have nothing to show for the precious mineral that is being exploited right in their face. The sad reality about it is that there will come a time when this precious mineral will run dry and the nation will look back to a community that gave so much but got nothing out of a God-given mineral. There is no doubt that all other companies operating in Chiadzwa need to be reminded of the need to plough back to the community in which they operate.
If Johannesburg was built from proceeds from gold mining, why not our Mutare, let alone the area of Chiadzwa itself? Interestingly, President Mugabe has already expressed concern with the below-par contributions mining is making to the national economy and he wants the sector rationalized and better controlled to ensure revenues from the sector benefit the entire country more fully.
The Head of State and Government and Commander-In-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces made the remarks at the 14th Annual National People’s Conference late last year in Chinhoyi. This squarely puts the ball in the policy makes court to see to it that Chiadzwa diamond mining companies start doing their part to plough back into this drought prone area as well as the underdeveloped province especially its capital — Mutare.
Online Reporter