via Govt alarm over Mujuru’s India attack 14 September 2014
VICE President Mujuru appeared to ignite a diplomatic storm Sunday after telling a church gathering that India had “built a whole town” from smuggled Marange diamonds.
The flow of cheap diamonds from Marange diamonds proved critical for city last year after processors there were forced to stop purchasing rough diamonds from big miners due to 20 per cent increase in prices.
This is the first time a senior Zanu PF official has backed claims by the opposition that proceeds from the controversial Marange diamonds were deliberately diverted from the national coffers.
When the diamonds find was announced, then Mines Minister Obert Mpofu claimed that Zimbabwe would no longer need to beg western countries for financial support.
The country would earn about $2 billion in additional revenues from the gems, the minister claimed.
Instead, the diamonds have built a whole city in India, Mujuru, with a touch of melodrama, told a St John Apostolic Church of the Whole World’s annual gathering Saturday.
Her comments came after the state-run Sunday Mail newspaper reported that Indian, Israeli and Lebanese syndicates working out of Mozambique were spiriting away quality diamonds from Marange for the black market in collusion with the diamond companies, while the miners submitted for international auctions poor standard gems.
To illustrate its point, the Mail said Zimbabwe earned $60 million from 960,000 carats sold through an auction in Dubai – compare that to $117 million Angola earned from 780,000 carats.
Mujuru took the story a gear up, fingering India in particular – suggesting diamonds spirited out of Manicaland were entering formal government coffers in that country.
Said the VP: “Iye zvino vakutaura kuti kuChiadzwa hakusisina mangoda. Hanzi akapera, asi hapana kana mukadzi ane mhete kana ring ribodzi zvaro.
Hapana kana anonzi akapinda basa rekupolisha matombo iwayo asi ukaenda kuIndia vanedhorobha rakakura ravakavaka nematombo ekuChiadzwa. Inonzi Surat … Asi isu tirikungonanzva madziro semapete. Aiwa, hurumende yati kwete.”
(Right now they are claiming that the Marange diamonds have been exhausted but no one here has any diamond rings or other jewels. No jobs were created locally in diamond polishing. All the diamonds were taken to India where they have built a town from Chiadzwa diamonds – it’s called Surat and yet Zimbabweans continue to struggle).
Government sources last night said there was “alarm” at Mujuru’s comments and their implications on Zimbabwe-India relations.
“The claim that India started a town afresh with Zimbabwean diamonds is quite serious. It’s unbelievable. If that doesn’t trigger a diplomatic storm, nothing ever would.
“For a senior person to be making allegations of that nature, it’s very, very bad. It’s quite alarming. You can’t have a junior official even making that kind of allegation.”
COMMENTS
Surprised she even knows where India is and wasn’t blaming the pesky British for a change.
Shows the ignorance of Zimbabwes leadership in any type of business. Prime example of how the country is run..
we hear Mai Mujuru own a private diamond claim in Chiadzwa, wherd is the revenue going?????
Sounds like the lady is campaigning for a bigger cut
Think we should ask her son in law the spaniard ,now i dont believ that he and his wife are clean in the diamond saga.
regai muchembere areuwurure pasoweka apa
she knows where she was sending her loot at the height of the scramble for ngoda. She is right they will all let us know where their loot is
The horse has already bolted you fool, and you’re part of the problem. Looters.
The reason Angola diamonds
got much more than Zimbabwe
diamonds, on the market, is
because Angola have ‘gem’
quality diamonds, not our
rubbish!
Regardless of what one might think of Dr Mujuru, I think lets be realistic she is telling the truth and that is the point. Whether she was or is part of the whole scandal at least she has owned up and surely enough some people will use this against her.So Dr Mujuru what is the solution and you being first vice president what have you or are putting in place to stop this and reclaim Zimbabwean resources and use them for the people of Zimbabwe.
Welll said. The good doctor has done well to stir the waters. Now we can talk about this again. $7bn vanished and the roaches lick the wall. Hear the scavengers attacking her for stoking a diplomatic crisis as if we care for that more than the truth. She may have been short -changed at the trough. So what? Haven’t we all? IIt’s naturally the losers that squeal, as we do here everyday.
I think what Mujuru is saying is right but there was no need to sensationalise and say a whole city was built out of Marange diamonds.
But there are also questions to be asked of her. As the second most senior leader in government what has she done about it? Is she also hapless and powerless like the majority of the population? If that is the case then it’s better for her to resign.
The problem lies on the Zimbabwean side and even now nothing is being done to get accountability from diamond mining in Marange and in two years’ time it will be ten years since the diamonds were discovered and Zimbabweans will have nothing to show for it.
For sure. We happen to suffer from a leadership crisis all round. Balanced and intelligent men like Makoni and Biti don’t stimulate us. We get what we choose.
And this dunce is supposed to take the oars from old man Bob? Is it not under heres and Bob’s watch that these things are happening? What have they done about it? Did the Indians tie Mugabe’s hands behind his back and loot the diamonds or Mugabe gave them permission.?
Bassop the Hippo is back.
The big question is what did she do to stop this criminal act? Nothing. Its obvious that she has a very low opinion of the zimbabwean people. She thinks we are so stupid to believe that she is sensire
While she may have dirty hands the hippo is correctly exposing well-known corruption albeit in an entertaining and curious manner. We know the garwe’s involvement in Surat. This interesting outburst is part of the ” power struggles “
I totally agree my fellows its just that she opens her jaw whenever she can. Cant stand the beast let alone Zanu !
If this is gawfe then its a good one. Those who want to hide behind diplomatic etiquette are simply playing factional agendas. If the people behind the looting of diamonds cannot be prosecuted at least they must be exposed.
Surat is only guilty of responding to a demand, who created that demand is the real story and everyone knows how that family has been making their money. How stupid can you get exposing yourself!
What an arsehole!
She is just as bad as him. They are all as bad as each other!!!
Future president who does not know how the leakage is taking place….. come on we are not blind
and this is an insult to our intelligence
I watched our VP on tv saying the towm was built using diamonds from Marange. Does our VP know when Surat was built, and when diamond mining commenced in Marange? Where is the sanity of a leader who finds it easy to lie (at a shrine, of all places)? Bishop Mabhiza should have, with subtlety of course, exposed the VPs lies there and then. I apoloize to India, our good friends, for the loose mouth that happens to feature on the face the second most powerful person in our country.
Somehow me thinks Dr Mujuru is craftier than the rest. .obviously there is a lot behind the scenes. .let’s sit back and enjoy the show
How did the Zimbabwean Government allow these diamonds to leave Zimbabwe and land in Surat. Someone has to be accountable for this. How come we didn’t build Bulawayo instead Surat was built.Why is it when the damage is done Mujuru is now talking where was she right from the onset.
I thought church gatherings were for fellowship in Christ and the preaching of God’s word. If Mai Mujuru wants to make a contribution to Zimbabwe she should get up at that gathering and begin to repent with a broken heart for the sin of her and her party. Can even one ZPF bigwig and all their gravy train followers on declare to the Lord that their houses/empires are NOT built on ill gotten gains. Do these people who seem to frequent church quite often not understand what God says about ill-gotten gains??? A ‘house’ built on ill gotten gains will be judged!
If diamonds are going missing and people blame one pointing at the anomally its foolishness not to want to get to the bottom of the matter. Its common understand that cars in UK and world over are using fuel from Africa and arab states. Its foolishness to ask when the first car was invented. Anyway Mrs Mujuru if its with in reach get down to an investigation. Whoever is involved must be exposed. No fear the masses will be behind. Seriously Zimbabwe and other African countries have nothing to show of their resources while europe and asian countries are growing big with Africa resources
“I thought church gatherings were for fellowship in Christ and the preaching of God’s word.”
They are for collecting money to benefit the preacher.
Sadly, Don, in many instances you are 100% correct. They will be judged.
She must say this in Parliament, and not at a church gathering. These zanoids are crazy,even her boss uses the same forum and not parliament.
Nothing wrong with that. The VP is just fight her case. She is attacked left right and centre at any given opportunity by the other faction which we hear has now roped in the king himself by making handsome overtures to the queen. Be warned of creating a dynasty by accident. Anyway zvinonyadzisa varume vakuru getting so deperate vachitya mukadzi. Dont get me wrong I dont belong to her faction and neither am I a male chauvinist but its just that for the better part of history patriarchs have always dominated this part of the world so its quite surprising at how these man are shivering and gnashing their teeth at the mention of her name. Even some of the comments on this forum smack of the other faction. Whats wrong with telling the truth even if you were part of the crime. Who is not a thief in the current administration? I think its more important to investigate the issue, provide corrective measures rather than attack and harass the whistleblower. That is why most people in this beloved country run away when they see someone committing a crime and they dont report as well – we harass and torture people for witnessing and whistleblowing. We see ourselves very educated, we overanalyse even simple issues complicating them in the process. I rest my case.
Some of us do not belong to Zanu pf so are not interested in the factional fights. Firstly, the VP was not telling the truth when she said Surat was built from Marange diamond money. Surat was built around 1516 and Marange diamonds are a very recent project. Secondly, if diamonds are being stolen, then she admits that she is part of the team that fails to make sure that diamonds benefit Zimbabweans.
Chokwadi chinorwadzwa. now there is a mad rush to repair delapideted infrastructure in the country just as a means of damage control. But all that has to be financed from money borrowed from people who looted our country.
What have the River Ranch diamonds, owned by Dr Amai’s family, done for Beitbridge and Zimbabwe?
Instead of fighting corruption in a clear and decisive manner, these are exactly the same useless words we have been receiving from bob when things like this happen. They say these words in order for people to ululate and sing praises for them that they say the truth. What does it help if you do nothing to fight the corruption.
For the reason that, with Mujuru we will get the same old wine in a new fat bottle I think Zanu PF needs to seriously consider giving the top job to Ngwena in December. Ngwena might have his own challenges but one thing for sure he will be different. Sounding like Mugabe will not be anywhere near his priorities I can assure you.
A bit alarming, considering that Surat was first settled in the 8th century or thereabouts. Classic case of foot in mouth by the Hippo.
Why make that comment at a church gathering,was she trying to patronise the whole gathering,anyway thanks for the news feed it confirms more that thieves are leading a certain republic.