…mining company accused of flagrant
violation of villagers’ rights
violation of villagers’ rights
Diana
Gondongwe
Gondongwe
CHIVI
– Villagers in Chivi
Rural District Council (RDC) Ward 20 are not happy with Murowa Diamonds’
operations which they say are extending to school grounds and other unsuitable
places thereby creating a big hazard in the community.
– Villagers in Chivi
Rural District Council (RDC) Ward 20 are not happy with Murowa Diamonds’
operations which they say are extending to school grounds and other unsuitable
places thereby creating a big hazard in the community.
Villagers say the company is violating their rights
through its ‘grossly irresponsible’ diamond prospecting and mining work.
through its ‘grossly irresponsible’ diamond prospecting and mining work.
Many people in the area claim that when the company
arrived in March 2018, villagers were told that only feasibility studies to
determine whether or not mining was sustainable were being done, nothing more
and nothing less.
arrived in March 2018, villagers were told that only feasibility studies to
determine whether or not mining was sustainable were being done, nothing more
and nothing less.
“When they came, Murowa’s people never engaged the
community in an honest manner and there is a lot that they are hiding. We were
told they will only be taking samples for six months or so but now they have
been mining for over a year. The reality is they are already mining and the
community is not benefiting in any way.
community in an honest manner and there is a lot that they are hiding. We were
told they will only be taking samples for six months or so but now they have
been mining for over a year. The reality is they are already mining and the
community is not benefiting in any way.
“As a matter of fact, their mining activities
disrupted our way of life and now we have to live with many health hazards. As
a community, we want a meeting with the company so that they clearly explain their
operations and how they intend to involve us and deal with the risks they have
created for the community,” said Tinashe Mkandi, a villager in the area.
disrupted our way of life and now we have to live with many health hazards. As
a community, we want a meeting with the company so that they clearly explain their
operations and how they intend to involve us and deal with the risks they have
created for the community,” said Tinashe Mkandi, a villager in the area.
The Zimbabwe Environment Lawyers Association (ZELA)
held a meeting with villagers and advised them to desist from signing any
papers they did not understand as they could be tricked into signing agreement
forms with the mine.
held a meeting with villagers and advised them to desist from signing any
papers they did not understand as they could be tricked into signing agreement
forms with the mine.
During the meeting, villagers stated that Murowa
Diamonds’ main operations were situated barely 50 metres from St Simon’s Zhara
Primary School classrooms. They said they were not happy with this because the mining
activities were noisy and distractive to school pupils.
Diamonds’ main operations were situated barely 50 metres from St Simon’s Zhara
Primary School classrooms. They said they were not happy with this because the mining
activities were noisy and distractive to school pupils.
“The mine is barely 50 meters away from our primary
school. How will our children concentrate in all that noise from the drilling?”
said one villager who refused to be identified.
school. How will our children concentrate in all that noise from the drilling?”
said one villager who refused to be identified.
Residents also lamented that the company was now
mining in school grounds and was using the school’s boreholes.
mining in school grounds and was using the school’s boreholes.
Some villagers said they suspected that the school
head, Lazarus Ivhurinosara could be working in cahoots with the diamond mine in
return for favours known only to him.
head, Lazarus Ivhurinosara could be working in cahoots with the diamond mine in
return for favours known only to him.
Ivhurinosara was given a letter from the residents’
lawyers stating that parents wanted to know if he had any agreement with Murowa.
lawyers stating that parents wanted to know if he had any agreement with Murowa.
“Our clients told us that Murowa Diamonds is mining
on school grounds (and is) making a lot of noise to pupils thereby making their
learning difficult. Our clients instructed us to demand to know from you what
type of arrangement you have with Murowa Diamonds,” reads part of the letter
from Matutu and Mureri Legal Practitioners.
on school grounds (and is) making a lot of noise to pupils thereby making their
learning difficult. Our clients instructed us to demand to know from you what
type of arrangement you have with Murowa Diamonds,” reads part of the letter
from Matutu and Mureri Legal Practitioners.
Villagers also claim that some of their domestic
animals (turkeys and cattle) died after they
drank waste water from the mining operations.
animals (turkeys and cattle) died after they
drank waste water from the mining operations.
Ward 20 Councillor Alec Nhundu said that the
community had engaged lawyers and was now waiting to be advised on the way
forward.
community had engaged lawyers and was now waiting to be advised on the way
forward.
The community was supposed to have a meeting with mine
officials on July 17 but mine officials later called the community’s lawyers
asking for a postponement. They, however, did not give any reason why they
wanted a postponement and neither did they suggest a date more convenient to
them.
officials on July 17 but mine officials later called the community’s lawyers
asking for a postponement. They, however, did not give any reason why they
wanted a postponement and neither did they suggest a date more convenient to
them.
The villagers say they are ready to demonstrate if
that is what it will take to force the company to the negotiation table.
that is what it will take to force the company to the negotiation table.
