via Mines Minister Chidhakwa summoned | The Herald July 17, 2014
Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa has been summoned to give evidence before a Parliamentary Committee today on controversial circumstances surrounding the establishment and pledges made to the Zimunya-Marange Community Share Ownership Trust.
The portfolio committee on Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment chaired by Gokwe-Nembudziya MP, Cde Justice Mayor Wadyajena (Zanu-PF), has been receiving evidence regarding the Trust from various stakeholders with some diamond mining companies in Chiadzwa expressing ignorance on the establishment of the Trust.
Others said they pledged only US$1,5 million each contrary to claims that five of the diamond mining companies had pledged US$10 million each.
Only two companies, Mbada Diamonds and Marange Resources, have disbursed US$200 000 each, while Diamond Mining Company, Anjin Investments and Jinan have not paid anything.
As a result, the committee wants to establish whether the community would benefit from the mining operations in their area. When the Trustees appeared before the same committee last year, they bemoaned interference by politicians and lack of funding for community development.
Appearing before the same committee recently, Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister Francis Nhema said the mining companies were aware of the Trust because they had attended meetings that culminated in its establishment. He said Community Share Ownership Trusts across the country had no written agreements since they were established through gentlemen’s agreements.
He also told the committee that he was engaging Minister Chidhakwa to ensure the firms donated to the Community Share Ownership Trust.
COMMENTS
This parliamentary committee needs to be warned that they could be lied to as the Ministry of Mines has become notorious for blatantly lying to the nation in recent months. They have lied that there were huge hard rock diamond resources to be mined after the depletion of alluvial resources. Recently the same Deputy Minister of Mines lied under oath telling parliament that Canada has withheld data obtained under a government to government aeromagnetic survey in the 1980s? All those in the know including the Director of the Geological Survey know that all the data was handed over to the government of Zimbabwe at a colourful ceremony and that the Geological Survey De[partment has been selling this information to those in exploration in the country? Shame!!!
just pullling the wool over everyones eyes
Waste of resources if ever they exist.
Chidhakwa is answerable to Mugabe and not to some fun grouping.