Tempers flared last Sunday at Mutare Polytechnic after Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Dydmus Mutasa, accused party heavyweights, Chris Mushohwe and Zanu (PF) Provincial Chairman Mike Madiro, of misleading the party when they formed the trust.
In June this year, President Robert Mugabe launched the Zimunya/Marange Community Share Ownership Trust at Gomorefu High School in Marange as a way of empowering the diamond-rich community.
Biased decisions
However, disgruntlement has been rife since the formation of the trust over its composition. Some accused Zanu (PF) of partisan by avoiding key stakeholders in the trust.
At the no holds Provincial Coordination Committee meeting held at Mutare Polytechnic last week, Mutasa openly challenged Mushohwe and Madiro over the trust.
“You are being biased because you both hail from Marange and Zimunya,” said Mutasa.
During the meeting, Mushohwe gave a summary report to appraise the PCC over the Zimunya/Marange Community Share Ownership Trust.
“You are selfish persons who masterminded the formation for Zimunya/Marange Ownership Trust at the expense of other districts in Manicaland. We want a provincial ownership trust as opposed to a district trust,” Mutasa responded. Zanu (PF) Manicaland provincial spokesperson, Gorden Chikwanda, said his party was supportive of the provincial trust.
“This (provincial ownership trust) is ideal because it will benefit the whole province. We have areas such as Chipinge that do not have diamonds but they need to be empowered by proceeds from the diamond fields,” said Chikwanda.
Madiro warned that poor articulation of policies would undermine Zanu (PF).
Serious problems
“We have serious problems in terms of our modus operandi as a party. We are not sticking to our pronouncements and regulations. If we undermine our own policies, we will be undermining ourselves in the process. We should always speak with one voice,” he said.
According to a survey conducted by The Zimbabwean recently in Marange, people have been accusing Mushohwe of trying to manipulate the trust and use it as a campaigning tool for the Mutare West seat he is eyeing.
The Zimbabwe Natural Resource Dialogue Forum said there was rampant looting and lack of community consultation in issues surrounding the Marange/Zimunya Community Share-ownership Trust.
In an exclusive interview with The Zimbabwean last week, the Manicaland Coordinator of ZNRDF, Freeman Bhoso, expressed great concern over the initiative, saying it faced a myriad of governance challenges.
“This has resulted in a lack of transparency, accountability, and community participation in activities pertaining to the Trust. The opaqueness and secrecy in which the Community Share Ownership Trust is operating raises more fears of corruption and nepotism,” said Bhoso.
Political analyst, John Makumbe, said the trust exercise does not guarantee that communities will benefit from mining projects, saying the money was just entrusted for development to local Chiefs and Zanu (PF) individuals with few checks and balances.
He added: “I believe these community trusts are being created and money is being pumped into them as a way of politicking by Zanu (PF) in preparation for elections. They are trying to buy voter support by promising development in these areas.”
Post published in: News