MUTARE Traditional leaders in the Marange area have appealed to diamond investors to establish diamond training schools in the province in order to empower the locals.
The traditional leaders told The Zimbabwean this week that the locals should be trained in cutting and polishing of diamonds and use the expertise in empowering themselves.
A traditional leader in Chiadzwa said: What is bothering us as the locals is the fact that there are a few top Zanu (PF) officials from Harare who are benefiting from the diamonds, while hundreds of locals in Chiadzwa are languishing in poverty. We are the people from Chiadzwa. This is our land and we should benefit from this.
The traditional leader added that there should be partnerships between them and the mining investors, who should plough money back to the community of Chiadzwa by improving road networks and social infrastructure.
Involvement by individuals and companies in development initiatives at Chiadzwa is a giant step towards eradication of poverty in our lives. I therefore urge both the investors and the local business community to come together and work towards transparent diamond mining at Chiadzwa.
Addressing different captains of Industries at Chiadzwa Diamond Mining Projects Business Opportunities Workshop held at a local hotel in Mutare recently, the governor of Manicaland province, Christopher Mushohwe, seconded the establishment of diamond mining schools in the province.
We appeal to our esteemed investors to look into establishing Diamond Training Schools in Mutare so as to train the locals in cutting and polishing diamonds, establishing value addition and diamond polishing centres here in Mutare rather than Harare, the governor said.
Post published in: News