…as ZCDC ropes in
artisanal miners
artisanal miners
Shingirai Vambe
The Minister of
State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba has said the
Chiyadzwa diamond fields in Marange could do more for communities if better
managed.
State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba has said the
Chiyadzwa diamond fields in Marange could do more for communities if better
managed.
Speaking during a
tour of the famed yet notorious mines recently, Gwaradzimba said although she
was a bit pleased with the progress that the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond
Company (ZCDC) was making to contribute to the development of local
communities, there was still a long way to go.
tour of the famed yet notorious mines recently, Gwaradzimba said although she
was a bit pleased with the progress that the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond
Company (ZCDC) was making to contribute to the development of local
communities, there was still a long way to go.
“I am impressed
with
with
what is happening at this mine and all the measures they are putting for
the safety of the public. What I see here, however, doesn’t tally with the kind
of development in the area. The province of Manicaland as a whole deserves more
from the mining activities happening here,” Dr Gwaradzimba said.
She urged the
company to make sure that the people displaced by the mines and relocated to
Arda Transau Farm are well looked after.
company to make sure that the people displaced by the mines and relocated to
Arda Transau Farm are well looked after.
“Those people
have been neglected for too long and the company must now provide them with
vital social amenities. Local resources should help to improve the lives of
local people,” she said.
have been neglected for too long and the company must now provide them with
vital social amenities. Local resources should help to improve the lives of
local people,” she said.
She said she was
particularly optimistic because of ZCDC’s drive towards improved transparency.
particularly optimistic because of ZCDC’s drive towards improved transparency.
“The company’s
move to bring about more transparency in its operations shows we are now in the
right direction for development in the country where the President is leading
calls against corruption,” Gwaradzimba said.
move to bring about more transparency in its operations shows we are now in the
right direction for development in the country where the President is leading
calls against corruption,” Gwaradzimba said.
The tour came a
day after a security indaba was held by the Chiyadzwa community, ZCDC
management and other stakeholders.
day after a security indaba was held by the Chiyadzwa community, ZCDC
management and other stakeholders.
The Minister was
taken through a new security checkpoint at the entrance to the mining area
before attending a security induction which preceded the tour.
taken through a new security checkpoint at the entrance to the mining area
before attending a security induction which preceded the tour.
ZCDC Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Morris Mpofu gave a detailed profile of the company
and highlighted its interests in other areas like Chimanimani.
Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Morris Mpofu gave a detailed profile of the company
and highlighted its interests in other areas like Chimanimani.
“We had a target
of three million carats by the end of 2018 but due to foreign currency
constrains, we have managed to produce 2.5 million carats. We are moving with
speed to reach the expected target,” Mpofu said.
of three million carats by the end of 2018 but due to foreign currency
constrains, we have managed to produce 2.5 million carats. We are moving with
speed to reach the expected target,” Mpofu said.
The company has
since announced that it intends to register artisanal miners and allow them to
do alluvial diamond mining on some of its claims so that they would sell their
mineral to government rather than on the black market.
since announced that it intends to register artisanal miners and allow them to
do alluvial diamond mining on some of its claims so that they would sell their
mineral to government rather than on the black market.
