8.0 PUBLIC HEARING AT BAMBAZONKE BUSINESS CENTRE, MARANGE
8.1 Marange–Zimunya Development Trust, represented by Mr. M Tafirenyika, and The B-Ment Youth Organization in Marange-Zimunya represented by Eng. Nemasase highlighted the following major concerns in the communities about diamond mining: (i) that the government and diamond mining companies should explain to local communities about what happened to the purported US$50 million pledge, and in particular the US$1.5 million displayed at the launch of the Trust by the President in 2012; (ii) the location of diamond polishing companies in Harare while avoiding Mutare and centres like Bambazonke Business Centre which marginalizes local communities who are denied employment opportunities; (iii) that it is disturbing for local communities to receive reports that alluvial diamonds were being exhausted before communities have experienced any tangible benefits such as construction of roads, schools, clinics, and the electrification projects; (iv) that there are local projects including the 1972 Bambazonke Irrigation Plan which could improve the livelihoods of locals had the Trust fund been channeled properly towards these projects; (iv) that mining activities by companies like DMC which are polluting Chenyu and Singwizi rivers, are not made accountable for their actions.
Communities accused government, in particular the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, of making a deal with the mining companies which benefited a few people at the expense of the affected communities. They further accused Chief Marange and Headman Chiadzwa of individually benefiting at their own expense since the companies donated motor vehicles and built homesteads for these community leaders. This was reiterated by most villagers who claimed that Government and the mining companies benefited while the communities, save for a few aforementioned individuals were languishing in poverty. They demanded that a meaningful and transparent agreement amongst the key stakeholders i.e. Government, mining companies and community was needed to enable the community to claim what was due to them
8.2 The Committee was informed that villagers were not happy that the name of the President was abused since he officiated at the launch of the M-Z CSOT and displayed a dummy cheque of US$1.5 million which has not been honoured. There was the general perception that, as expressed by Mrs. Mavhunaga, the non-payment of pledged funds by the companies has abused the name of the President. She demanded that the person who misled the President should be arrested; failure to arrest the person would imply that the President himself had unwittingly made a misrepresentation to the people
8.3 The ZCDC has refused to take responsibility over what transpired between locals and former diamond mining companies regarding relocation and related issues. The community was concerned with the settlement of the salary arrears that were incurred by the mining companies in view of the recent mining companies’ amalgamation. They were concerned about who would take the responsibility of settling the payments. They urged government to clarify this issue and to make arrangements that benefited the locals.
8.4 The Committee was informed of police brutality to local residents during their patrols around diamond mines. Mrs. Ziduche informed the Committee that her son Fungai Ziduche sustained serious injuries leading to the loss of his testicle after he was assaulted by police.
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