ZIMBABWE Lawyers for Human Rights regional manager Blessing Nyamaropa has urged people who were displaced to pave way for diamond mining activities in Chiadzwa to demand transparency in the administration of the Zimunya Marange Community Share Ownership Trust.
REPORT BY OBEY MANAYITI STAFF REPORTER
Addressing villagers, who have since been relocated to Arda Transau, Nyamaropa on Tuesday, said affected families should confront the relevant government officials and demand fair compensation and a share of the trust funds.
“On Zimunya Marange Community Share Ownership Trust, you have to confront the relevant authorities and check whether there is anything that has been deposited in the account. If there is nothing, then you will expose it as sham,” Nyamaropa said.
“There is nothing wrong in making noise against abuse. At a local level, you should also come up with a list of grievances that are affecting your area and present them to the mining companies and demand a plan of action. If you keep silent, nothing will be done.”
Since its launch by President Robert Mugabe in July this year, the trust has remained shrouded under a cloud of secrecy amid reports that no deposits have been made into its coffers.
About $50 000 worth of pledges were made at the launch.
Kimberley Process Certification Scheme Civil Society Coalition representative in Zimbabwe Shamiso Mtisi said: “People should fight for their freedom through community-based organisations that will act as the voice of the community in demanding and claiming their rights.
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“With the approved sale of diamonds, we expect that the government and mining companies will fulfill the economic, social and cultural rights of people affected by mining.”
Villagers said they were getting impatient with the “empty” pledges promised to them under the Zimunya Marange Community Share Ownership Trust. They also accused the diamond mining firms of polluting their water sources. According to a recent survey commissioned by the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association, Chiadzwa residents were said to be sitting on a ticking health time bomb due to high levels of water pollution, which is also affecting some parts of Chipinge.
