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They said the negative publicity by both local and international publications was based on falsehoods.
The civil society group was full of praise for the development the mines had brought in the area in four years, saying it was much more than what other mining companies who had been in the country for more than 100 years had done.
Speaking after touring Arda Transau, the resettlement area, Mr Pritchard Zhou, the national co-ordinator of the Zimbabwe Heritage Trust, said Western sponsored agendas had blinded civil society to the Government’s good works at Marange Diamond Fields.
“Civil society has been divided because of the West’s attempts to cause regime change in the country. Civil society often represents views of those who want regime change. What we saw yesterday and today is a bold statement that 11 or 12 years of sanctions have failed to stop development. I am extremely impressed and I think the Government should
continue working with companies in Marange,” said Mr Zhou.
He said there should be accountability at the diamond fields.
Mr Zhou said he had read that Zimbabwe had the largest diamond deposits in the world adding that the infrastructural development and determination of companies at Marange gave him confidence that the future was bright.
Renowned cultural activist and director of Amakhosi Theatre, Mr Cont Mhlanga, said sanctions should be removed.
“I am impressed by the amazing model of rural development that I have seen here. It should be spread to the rest of the country.
“The targeted sanctions on diamonds must be removed immediately because the development on the ground shows that they are unwarranted,” said Mr Mhlanga.
He called on the four mining companies to pool resources and jointly develop infrastructure at Arda Transau.
“The companies should sit down and develop this area. There is more social and economic life in Mbare than here, although Arda Transau is more developed than Mbare,” he said.
Mr Farai Maguwu, the director of the Centre for Research and Development, said he was impressed by what the four diamond mining companies had done.
Mr Maguwu is famous for being at the forefront of denouncing the companies and accusing them of abusing human rights.
“I am happy about what is happening at Arda Transau. I am impressed to see the new schools and clinics that have been built. As far as we saw, Marange has complied with the Kimberley Process,” said Mr Maguwu.
He said the corporate social responsibility of the companies should not be an act of benevolence, but should be a Government policy that sets aside a fixed percentage of profits for development of communities.
“What has been done here at Marange is good. There is just need to improve communication among, the civil society, media, Government and mining companies so that we all know what is happening with the diamonds at all times,” said Mr Maguwu.
The chief executive officer of Sojama Economic Development Institute of Zimbabwe, Dr Khumbulani Mhlophe, said the reports he heard abroad about diamond mining activities in Zimbabwe were different from what he saw during the tour.
“Reports going around the world are false. What we have seen here shows that ownership of minerals by the Government and citizens is the only way to go for Zimbabwe and the whole of Africa. We now need to spread that Afrocentric thinking so that it becomes a sustainable way of life,” said Dr Mhlophe.
He said he had been to a number of diamond mines around the world, including Kimberly in South Africa and what he saw at the mines at Marange were world class security systems.
The civil society group toured the mines on Wednesday and visited the resettlement area yesterday.
The seven civil society entourage included representatives from Crisis Coalition, Centre for Research and Development, Counselling Services Units, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association, Women Coalition and National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations and Zimbabwe Heritage Trust.
Online Reporter