People in Marange hoped the diamond industry would pump money into reviving failing irrigation schemes as small-scale farmers cannot maintain or replace ageing equipment and national law requires mining companies to help local communities develop. The villagers had the chance to voice their concerns at the Alternative Mining Indaba conference in Mutare this month comprising civic society, communities and stakeholders in the mining sector and legislators promised to help.
However the diamond companies maintain they fulfilled what they were expected to do for the relocated villagers. Anjin Investments, which was a joint venture between the government and Chinese investors, said it complied with the law when it came to the relocation of the villagers.
A spokesman for Mbada Diamonds, George Manyaya, said his company was happy with what they had done for the villagers and the traditional leaders had appreciated their initiatives. But villager Blessing Mufute said the situation at Arda Transau had become so bad that many people were going hungry. In a telephone interview with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, Mines Minister Walter Chidhakwa said local people should not feel they are forgotten. When you look at Mbada, it had the highest gem and concentration You need transparency and you need to monitor what happens to your diamonds.
It's the best concession yet with the worst result. Cde Shumba said the committee's oversight function was not a witch-hunt, but sought to enhance opportunities for the country to benefit from its God-given resources. In a related article , it is reported that outgoing United States President Barack Obama has extended sanctions against Zimbabwe by at least another year. This came as reports on Friday indicated that Obama's administration was set to ease sanctions against Sudan and broaden now limited talks with the long estranged African government.
However, sanctions against Zimbabwe were to continue in "conformity with the Washington's national emergency policies".
0コメント