4.6 Honourable Francis Nhema, then Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment
4.6.1 Honourable Nhema, Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment, confirmed to the Committee that there was no written agreement and/or correspondence between the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment, and the Companies on the USD 50 million dollar pledge. The Minister alleged that the pledge was made in a meeting, and no minutes of proceedings were produced. He pointed out that he had not seen any documentation from the companies to the Ministry and vice versa, he stated that no written agreement existed although he assumed there was a “gentleman’s agreement.”
4.6.2 Honourable Nhema pointed out that in any event, if he were to meet with the mining companies, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development would be present because the companies fall under the jurisdiction of that Ministry. He expressed concern over the negotiations, noting that they were not holistic and did not involve all stakeholders. He pointed out that had all parties been present during the discussions, there would have been more transparency. Honourable Nhema informed the Committee that the Ministry had learnt that in all dealings and pledges, all interested parties must be represented so that work is done amicably by all parties and that everything be documented to enable easy follow-ups. The former Minister further stated that the correspondence purported to have been signed by his predecessor, Hon. Minister S. Kasukuwere did not exist at his offices and even security had failed to track and locate it.
4.7 Honourable Christopher Mushowe, then Governor of Manicaland Province
The Committee was informed that on 20 August, 2012, Honourable Mushowe received a letter from Hon. Minister Saviour Kasukuwere requesting him as Governor to make follow ups and ensure that the pledges made by the diamond mining companies were met for the benefit for the Marange-Zimunya Communities. The Committee established that Honourable Mushowe told some companies verbally that they should honour their pledges and that he wrote formally to Anjin reminding them to honour their pledge. He pointed out that he had written to Anjin only because Anjin was the only company that came to the launch and had presented the USD 1.5 million dummy cheque. He further pointed out that he made follow-ups via telephone reminding Anjin to deposit the amount pledged to the CSOT.
4.8 Honourable Walter Chidhakwa, Minister of Mines and Mining Development
The Committee gathered that when the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Honourable Minister Chidhakwa, had a meeting with the mining companies, they informed him that at the inception of the M-Z CSOT, there was no meeting held to discuss contributions to the CSOT. The Committee heard that the companies further alleged that no discussions were made on the amounts that would be deposited in accounts, the manner and the purpose of the CSOT and how it linked with the companies’ Corporate Social Responsibility. He informed the Committee that the companies had shown commitment that they were ready, willing and able to discuss with Government on the figures to be paid because the figures that were mentioned during the launch of the CSOT, were only mentioned but had never been agreed to. He further elaborated that the companies reiterated that a meeting was never held to discuss the sum that each company would pay into the CSOT.
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