adminNgoni Dapira Post Correspondent
CONTRACTORS hired by Chiadzwa diamond mining companies to build houses for the relocated families at ARDA Transau farm in Odzi have come under fire for their poor workmanship.
Speaking after touring the relocated families last Thursday, Mines and Mining Development Minister, Cde Walter Chidhakwa, said he was appalled by the poor workmanship on some of the housing projects.
Barely seven years have passed since the first families were relocated to ARDA Transau in 2009, but some of the houses are already developing cracks on the walls.
Cde Chidhakwa said the newly formed Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company would look into the matter.
“We have heard the concerns on the poor workmanship on some of the houses. ZCDC will look into the quality of the work by contractors. Our (Government) intention is not just to provide accommodation for the resettled families, but to gratify them. People must feel sufficiently compensated. If the contractors shortchanged us then this must be corrected,” said Cde Chidhakwa.
He said ZCDC would in April relocate more families living in the high security areas in Chiadzwa. He said so far there were 71 houses ready for occupation at ARDA Transau, while 35 were still under construction, but nearing completion.
A 14-year-old boy, Gilmore Muchingami, caught the attention of the Mines Minister and the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Cde Mandi Chimene, when he narrated some of the challenges they were facing at ARDA Transau.
He expressed concern over the cracking walls, especially those staying in houses constructed by Mbada Diamonds and Anjin mining companies.
Muchingami also implored ZCDC to construct another secondary school, saying they were walking 3,5km to the only secondary school in the area, Chirasike Secondary School.
Cde Chidhakwa said there was need for ZCDC to create confidence in the people.
“ZCDC will need to create confidence in the people and even the worker that will be employed. So to begin with, at ARDA Transau we will assess if the one secondary school is able to accommodate the increasing population. Each cluster must also have a shopping centre and not to just have one in the Anjin cluster as the current situation. Let us build and let out shops in every cluster as Government,” he said.
Since 2009, just over 1000 families have been moved to ARDA Transau to pave way for diamond mining in Chiadzwa.
Each relocated family was allocated a three bed-roomed house, 11hectares of arable land including one-hectare earmarked for irrigation and a once off disturbance allowance of $1 000.
Online Reporter