HARARE - Two mining companies extracting diamonds at Chiadzwa under controversial circumstances have been advised not to attend a committee hearing into their affairs.Mines and energy committee members said the mining minister, Obert Mpofu, had written an opinion, advising the directors of Mbada Diamonds and Canadile not to attend this weeks hearing.
Canadile had, said the committee chairman, Edward Chindori Chininga, used the opinion as their justification for snubbing the committee.
We were supposed to meet with Mbada and Canadile but none of them came. So far we have received a letter from Canadile, said Chindori Chininga. We have not yet received communication from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and from Mbada. But what we have been given by Canadile is an opinion that is coming from the ministry and that is that they are not coming. They attached the ministrys opinion to the letter.
He said they would continue to discuss the matter with the mining companies and would ask the secretariat to write to them again, emphasising the consequences of failing to comply with Parliament.
They have a right to be heard in camera if they so wish, but not to avoid Parliament. Its of great concern. It is an expense to Parliament. Each week we call for such meetings, MPs travel from their areas and are housed in Harare. The meetings were scheduled for three days, said Chindori Chininga.
Controversy surrounding the two companies stems from what is seen as a lack of transparency in the way they were constituted, the way mining rights were awarded and the make-up of their board of directors.
Post published in: Economy