(NEWZIMBABWE) Chiadzwa villagers demand US$50k compensation

Chiadzwa villagers demand US$50k compensation
02/09/2012 00:00:00
by Garikai Chaunza

SOME of the families displaced by diamond mining activities at Marange in the eastern Manicaland province have dismissed as a pittance the US$1,000 they were given in compensation and want the payments increased to US$50,000.

About 4,000 families were moved from the Chiadzwa area to make way for commercial exploitation of a diamond find described as one of the world’s richest and a massive economic boon for the country.

Companies operating in the area, which include Mbada Diamond, Anjin Investments, Diamond Mining Company and Marange Resources, were supposed to pay relocation expenses for the affected villagers.

Some of the families were resettled at Arda Transau, a farm in Odzi, but now say the US$1,000 they were paid in compensation was not enough.

“We are more than happy to see government and the companies operating in our area because we were never given the chance to say what we wanted as compensation,” Tsarukanai Mavhiza, a councillor from the area told New Zimbabwe.com.

“At the moment, a lot of us have not even received the US$1,000 and there is no information from the companies. Even those who have been paid are now realising that they were short-changed.”

Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association Executive director, Mutuso Dhilwayo, said the organisation would represent the families in their fight for an improved compensation deal.

“We are not concentrating on Chiadzwa or diamond mining only, but we are saying all mining contracts which were secretively negotiated should be renegotiated in public,” he said.

“In the case of the Chiadzwa villagers, they deserve to be given the chance to negotiate for themselves not what happened.”

Willias Madzimure, an MP, added: “I strongly believe that these people were short-changed. What was supposed to be done is to give them the opportunity to choose what they wanted before the relocation.”

The Chiadzwa diamonds have been dogged by controversies since they were discovered several years ago.

Industry watchdog, the Kimberly Process (KP), moved to block trading of the gems on the world market following allegations of human rights abuses, corruption and the involvement security services in mining the diamonds.

The KP ban has since been lifted but the MDC parties in the coalition government claim proceeds from the diamonds are not being remitted to the Treasury.