People of Marange shortchanged

Villagers from Marange who have been displaced by diamond mining operations have been short-changed by the mining companies as they have not yet provided them with alternative accommodation.

Only 693 families out of 4 300 have been relocated according to the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy report. At least 780 houses and six businesses have been evaluated and are set to receive compensation.

The committee expressed concern that some of the households still living in Marange suspended most of their livelihoods such as farming on the grounds that they would be relocated and were thus facing food insecurity.

Anjin, jointly-owned with the Chinese, is the only company to have fulfilled its obligation. It was supposed to build 474 houses and has already done so and allocated the houses.

Mbada, which claimed to have paid out $293 million to treasury though Finance Minister Tendai Biti said he only received $41 million, has built and allocated only 100 out of the expected 487.

Marange Resources, wholly owned by the government, has delivered the second highest number of houses, 184 out of the expected 350 but only 116 had been allocated.

Jinan Investments, which was expected to build another 350, had only allocated 31 though it had constructed 110.

Diamond Mining Company had only built and allocated 30 out of the expected 114 while Rera Diamonds had not yet started building any of its 92 houses.

(73 VIEWS)