ZCDC to cede 10pc stake to CSOT

Tendai Gukutikwa Mutare Bureau
CABINET has adopted a policy requiring Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) to cede 10 percent of its Chiadzwa shares to the Zimunya-Marange Community Share Ownership Trust, The Herald has leant. National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board (NIEEB) regional manager for Manicaland and Masvingo Mr David Garwe said the policy that the shares be awarded to Zimunya-Marange Community Share Ownership Trust had already been put in place by Government and would be implemented in due course.

Mr Garwe revealed this when he chaired a question-and-answer session held during the Manicaland Dialogue Meeting on community benefit schemes and the roles and responsibilities of local leaders in the governance and management of natural resources in their localities, hosted by Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) in Mutare yesterday.

“As soon as a share certificate has been made available, the implementation will begin. What is most important, however, is that Government has already noted it and they know as, ZCDC that 10 percent of those shares belong to you the community.”

He said it was also common cause that in every mining company and in any given community in the country, 10 percent of the shares were given to the community and channelled through the responsible community share ownership trust.

Mr Garwe said this after a number of Community Share Ownership Trust (CSOT) members had complained during a panel discussion that the powers of the Zimunya-Marange SOT in the diamond mining area were invisible, as they had not been given their shares as a community yet.

“We hear that in other communities where there is mining with big companies, 10 percent of the shares are given to the community but that has not been the case with us. With those shares we can be empowered to control of our natural resources,” said a relocated resident, Mr Willard Mukwada.

Another villager, Chipo Marange also complained of the form of recruitment for jobs that is happening at the Chiadzwa mines.

She said: “Our children are unemployed yet the company employs people from Harare and if we get those shares in our control, then probably we can help lessen unemployment in the community and recruit the local youths.”

ZCDC is currently putting its house in order and buying adequate machinery to resume diamond mining following its taking over of Chiadzwa diamond mining claims that were owned by companies whose grants were not renewed by Government in 2016.

According to Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Cde Mandi Chimene the foreign companies were chased away after they failed to own up to their promises and honour their obligations to the community and the government.