Marange Villagers Move To Block The Return Of Chinese Diamond Company
Marange villagers have urged the government to stop the return of a Chinese diamond company, Anjin, claiming that it has a “dark past” including human rights abuses. Their move comes after the government last week announced that Anjin would resume mining operations in Chiadzwa.
Anjin operated in Chiadzwa from 2009 to 2016 before government revoked licences of diamond companies mining in that area leading to the formation of the Zimbabwe Consolidation Diamond Company (ZCDC).
Speaking at a Press conference yesterday in Mutare, the Amalgamated Chiadzwa Development Communities Trust (ACDCT), Marange Chapter chairperson, Jay Kasakara, said:
The (ACDCT) is deeply saddened by the decision by government to allow new diamond mining operations in Marange without following due process. In the past three months the ACDCT has observed in dismay the unregulated diamond mining activities taking place in Chiadzwa by Anjin Diamond Company, which has a dark past.
This unfortunate decision was confirmed by minister Winston Chitando on a local radio station. Anjin was one of the mining companies that also started mining operations in Chiadzwa community in 2009 without the approved environmental assessment plan.
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Their mining activities destroyed the community infrastructure such as roads, bridges, schools, degraded farming land, sacred areas and contaminated sources of (drinking) water.
Over 4 000 cattle were lost after falling into mining pits, gullies and slime dams, around 450 families were relocated to Arda Transau without secured livelihoods and compensation for their losses.
Mupfupi added that the government has a constitutional mandate of protecting citizens from all forms of rights abuses.
More: News Day
