via Gem theft to continue under Mugabe, MP – New Zimbabwe 06/04/2015
MDC-T legislator for Mabvuku-Tafara, James Maridadi, has said the mess in the country’s extractive sector, particularly diamond mining, will not change unless Zimbabweans remove President Robert Mugabe from power.
Diamonds discovered several years ago in Manicaland’s Marange district would, according to then mines minister Obert Mpofu, earn the country more than $2 billion per year in additional revenue, ending the need for Zimbabwe to beg the world for financial assistance.
But years later the country struggles with a serious financial crisis with the reputed diamond riches making little to no impact amid claims revenues were diverted from the national treasury by members of the ruling Zanu PF party.
Top government and ruling party officials, Mpofu included, have also grown richer over the same period while the majority of Zimbabweans struggle to survive.
Addressing civic organisations in Mutare last week, Maridadi blamed the country’s economic problems on the Zanu PF-led government.
He said the country’s leadership problem needed to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
“We can continue talking about problems in the extractive sector but the truth is that everything is centred on the current crop of leadership we have,” he said.
“Our leadership leaves a lot to be desired. We can go for 100 years in this mess as long we don’t change the leadership we have.”
The MDC-T legislator said Zimbabweans should stand up and “fearlessly vote out the current leadership” in the 2018 elections “because they have brought untold suffering to the masses through ruinous policies”.
He said Zimbabwe is not the first country to discover diamonds in the world, adding that some countries last mined diamonds 90 years ago but they are still benefitting from the proceeds.
“Zimbabwe is not the first country to discover diamonds,” he said.
“We have countries who mined diamonds in the last 90 years but their generations are still benefitting from the proceeds.”
He continued: “The country should not enact laws for posterity not to suit the individual needs of a few.
“In United States of America election and inauguration dates for the President are publicly known and written in the constitution.
“In Zimbabwe such dates are known by one man; he is the one who sets the date and knows when the President will be inaugurated. It’s a pity.”
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