Cross made the remarks at a Diamond Conference organized by the Centre for African Resources in the capital on Friday.
The Bulawayo South legislator, in his speech, narrated how the Minister of Mines, Obert Mpofu had downplayed the total amount of revenue realised from raw diamond sales at Marange for the past five years to cover up illicit deals.
Cross said Mpofu misrepresented to Parliament that Zimbabwe had realised $200 million from the sale of raw diamonds over five years.
“He (Mpofu) further stated that total payments to the Exchequer had been just over $174 million in the same period. In fact, this statement imputed that the miners had paid out most of the money earned from the sale of diamonds,” said Cross.
He said it was regrettable that Zimbabwe was rich in diamond deposits yet is rated as one of the poorest countries on the country.
Cross said evidence which shows exploitation of the diamonds for self-enrichment purposes included the construction of large, luxury homes in many parts of the country by those controlling mining activities in Zimbabwe, “visible evidence of a high standard of living for a significant number of people whose positions do not justify such lifestyles and significant expenditure by individuals and firms linked to Marange including luxury apartments and houses, even high rise buildings in South Africa.”
Cross castigated a military-style operation by Zanu (PF) in Marange in
2008 which was meant to drive out illegal miners and restore state control over the fields.
Thousands of panners descended on Marange from 2005 but the government of President Robert Mugabe deployed the army, intelligence and police officers to flush them out.
“In my view, the primary reason for this was the understanding within the ruling party at the time that they were in unsettled water and needed alternative sources of funding,” said Cross.
He bemoaned that activities of some companies involved in diamond mining in Marange remained shrouded in secrecy and that “no consolidated figures of production exist for the area”.
Companies involved in diamond mining in Marange include Mbada Diamonds, Anjin and Marange Resources.
Cross bemoaned the failure by the Ministry of Mines to submit funds to Treasury, saying it impacted negatively on the 2013 budget projections.
“His (Mpofu) failure to do so plunged the Ministry of Finance into a crisis which meant that many items in the national budget could not be funded. No explanation has been given for this failure,” bemoaned Cross.
Cross said it was imperative for the government to pay compensation to the families of people killed or displaced during government’s military takeover of the diamond fields in 2008.
“My own view is that those who have benefited so visibly from the illicit sales of Marange diamonds over the past five years should be required to pay such compensation to the affected communities,” said Cross.
Post published in: News
There are a few MPs who have made some effort to bring some order into Zimbabwe’s chaotic governance and MP Eddie Cross is certainly one of those few.
Still, one has to ask why MP Cross and his follow MDC bedfellow in the two MDC factions have failed to take people like Mines Minister Obert Mpofu to task in parliament over all this looting of diamond? And MP Cross continue to endorse the Copac draft knowing fully well it will only serve to perpetuate the corruption, looting and oppression of the people?
I think people like MP Cross could have done a lot more to save the nation from Mugabe and Zanu PF but are holding back. They are doing just enough to ensure their re-election and no more!
This is a hard core Rhodie who was declared insolvent after destroying CSC,Beira Corridor Co and his own failed companies who has suddenly become an economic adviser to the MDC.God forbid.