Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara on Wednesday urged the House of Assembly to put to task United States President Barack Obama over the US’s decision to place State-owned Marange Resources and Mbada Diamonds on the sanctions list.
The US this week added the two firms on its list of individuals and State companies accused of fuelling human rights violations. The targeted sanctions are mainly linked to President Robert Mugabe’s inner circle.
“The extension of sanctions this week by the USA on Mbada Diamonds and Marange Resources undermines our efforts to leverage our economy,” Mutambara said.
“This House must condemn Obama for deliberately undermining our efforts to drive our economy and I expect this House to take a position on Obama and his government.”
Mutambara said this while responding to a question from Makoni South MP Pishai Muchauraya (MDC-T), who had asked him to clarify government policy on indigenisation pertaining to Chinese diamond mining companies like Anjin.
“The challenge is for Zimbabweans to be cleverer and be able to negotiate favourable deals and make sure the Chinese observe our laws and employ Zimbabweans, as well as order materials to use in their industries from Zimbabwean companies,” Mutambara said.
He added: “The challenge is on ourselves to make sure they do not take unprocessed raw materials so that we increase on beneficiation.
“It is our duty and obligation to make sure the Chinese observe the laws around labour and indigenisation.”
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Mutambara also called on the ministries of Mines and Mining Development and Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment to inform Parliament if the Chinese had satisfied mining and indigenisation requirements.
