Parliament calls on government to investigate Kasukuwere over Marange–Zimunya Community Share Ownership Trust within 14 days

6.0    PUBLIC HEARINGS AT CHIRASIKA BUSINESS CENTER (ARDA TRANSAU)

6.1 On 01 April 2016, the Committee conducted a brief public hearing at Chirasika Business Centre, ARDA Transau. The Committee was informed that Chirasika Primary School was built by Mbada Diamonds. Teachers’ accommodation is inadequate. It was also mentioned that the school comprised of 7 classrooms only, hence some lessons take place in the open and/or in makeshift classrooms.

6.2 The Committee was also informed that some homesteads built were overcrowded and in some cases muroora (daughter-in-law) is compelled to share accommodation with her in-laws. The relocated villagers also complained of high water bills at $4 per month while they paid between USD 100-150 per household for irrigation plots. The Committee was informed of severe food insecurity in ARDA Transau because their half hectare allocated plots cannot produce enough food. The villagers confirmed that during the relocation exercise they were given USD 1000 disturbance allowances.

7.0    PUBLIC HEARING AT ZIMUNYA BUSINESS CENTRE

7.1 On 1 April, 2016 the Committee conducted a public hearing at Zimunya Business Center. The following were the major issues raised.

7.1.2 Villagers were concerned about the US$50 million allegedly pledged by the mining companies in the Chiadzwa area, and in particular the US$1.5 million that was displayed during the launch of the M-Z CSOT which was never remitted. They alleged that either the companies did not fulfill the pledge or it was paid but was then misappropriated and did not benefit local communities. Villagers, however, acknowledged receipt of the US$5 000 from  the Trust which they used to do projects, such as  refurbishing of a Community Hall at Zimunya Business Center. They had hoped that money from the Trust would be handy to rehabilitate bridges destroyed by Elnino in 2000 at Nyahuni River. They were concerns that youths in the area were made to fill out forms so that they would benefit from the pledged US$10 million from each of the companies. No such funds were availed.

7.1.3 The Committee was also informed about the DMC mining activities which pollute rivers like Singwizi yet nothing was being done to protect villagers and their livestock from contaminated water. Most speakers, especially headmen expressed concern that diamond mining companies were not employing youths from Marange-Zimunya area because they were recruiting from Mashonaland provinces. Villagers weren’t amused about the location of diamond factory in Harare yet the mining was being carried out in Marange–Zimunya area, a move which denied their local youth job opportunities. A proposal was made by the villagers that diamond mining companies should have a policy of guaranteeing 60% of jobs for local youths in order to economically empower them.

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