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

1. To determine the nature of the commitments made by Anjin Investments, Diamond Mining Company, Mbada Diamonds, Marange Resources, Jinan Investment Private Limited and Rera Diamonds to the Marange-Zimunya Community Share Ownership Trust;
2. To understand the obligations, if any, binding Anjin Investments,Diamond Mining Company, Mbada Diamonds, Marange Resources, Jinan Investment Private Limited and Rera Diamonds to the Marange-Zimunya Community Share Ownership Trust;
3. To analyse the causes of the failure of the implementation and operationalisation of the Marange-Zimunya Community Share Ownership Trust; and
4. To ascertain the nature and extent of the challenges faced by families relocated from the Chiadzwa mining fields.

This Committee Report is a culmination of observations emanating from the investigation. It presents:

a)    Background information on indigenisation and economic empowerment and the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZIMASSET);

b)   Outline of issues linked to the failure to effectively implement the relocation of displaced villagers in ARDA Transau by the diamond mining companies;

c)    Summary and outcomes of oral evidence gathered;

d)   Committee findings and;

e)    Recommendations.

2.0 BACKGROUND

2.1 A number of factors motivated the necessity for this inquiry. These included, firstly, the prominence of CSOTs in the national development agenda as identified in the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Policy and the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation. Failure to recognise the central role that CSOTs are intended to play in socio-economic prosperity, and consequent failure to efficiently implement and operationalise CSOTs by key stakeholders provided just cause for examination. Secondly, the lack of clarity of the exact nature and extent of commitments (as well as conflicting claims of the same) made by relevant mining companies and other stakeholders towards the M-Z CSOT provided grounds for concern. Thirdly, disturbing reports of the bitter disappointment on the part of families relocated from the Chiadzwa mining fields around the non-remittance of their compensation funds, the inadequate size of the newly allocated plots and their inability to access basic services appeared to constitute unmet obligations on the part of the mining companies. Fourthly and finally, the proposed consolidation of all Zimbabwean diamond concessions and companies and the inheritance of all assets and liabilities of existing mining companies by Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Corporation brought to bear the question of what the exact obligations would be in respect to the M-Z CSOT.

These issues gave basis for the pursuit of an investigation by means of oral and written submissions of evidence by related stakeholders as well as fact-finding missions to relevant localities.

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