Government identifies new farm to resettle Chiadzwa families

where the villagers are currently being taken to, will not be able to absorb all the families set to be affected.
This was said by Manicaland acting provincial administrator, Mr Cosmas Chiringa while briefing a Parliamentary

Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy who were on a familiarisation visit at Arda Transau.
“Arda Transau will not accommodate 4 000 families that will be affected by the mining activities. There is therefore, need to look for another farm. We have proposed land that is undeveloped in Middle Sabi. A decision is still to be made on that,” said Mr Chiringa.

The relocation expenses are being bankrolled by the diamond mines.
These are Mbada Diamond, Anjin Investments, Diamond Mining Company and Marange Resources.

In an interview after the tour, committee chairperson and Guruve South MP, Cde Edward Chindori-Chininga (Zanu-PF) said there was need for standardisation of what the mining firms should pay in terms of relocation expenses.
He said this after the committee noted that the four companies had made varied contributions towards the relocation exercise.

The number of houses constructed differed from one firm to another, even post relocation assistance varied from one firm to another.
“There is need to standardise the services they are providing. Why are the services not standard?”
He said the good work being done at Chiadzwa and Arda Transau was at times marred by politicians who try to put bottlenecks into the process.

Cde Chindori-Chininga was referring to a decision to bar legislators from entering the fields in 2010.
He was also referring to a decision by authorities not to clear a public hearing the committee wanted to conduct at Chiadzwa with villagers.
“The beneficiaries are happy, there is good work going on here and nobody can ever come here and discredit such a good thing.

“Politicians should not interfere on these issues, this is a national project but unfortunately politicians take perceptions and make decisions,” he said.
On Arda Transau, Cde Chindori-Chininga expressed concern at the delay in opening up of a local clinic whose renovation has since been completed.

The clinic was renovated by Marange Resources last year but is not yet operating.
Mr Chininga said they were still waiting to have it stocked with drugs among other issues.

Mutare West MP, Mr Shuah Mudiwa (MDC-T) commended the mining operations at Chiadzwa and the relocation.
“This is a good exercise. As an MP for Chiadzwa, I am actually pleased with what I have seen,” said Mr Mudiwa who is also a member of the committee.