The companies have also been castigated for failing to support struggling industries in Mutare by awarding them tenders to supply goods and materials to the lucrative mines. Agricultural Rural Development Authority Board Chairperson, Basil Nyabadza, told a Manicaland Business Action Group tour of local industries that Anjin Investments imported human capital from China while locals remain unemployed.
The Zanu (PF) national Secretary for Administration, Didymus Mutasa, also took part in the tour of struggling companies such as Quest Motors, PG Safety Glass, Mutare Board and Paper Mills, Masara Transport and the Sakubva Bus Terminus.
Since the discovery of diamonds there has been no meaningful change in the industrial sector. Nyabadza said mines were thriving while the city of Mutare was dying.
“The Chinese (Anjin Investments) are bringing personnel to drive tractors and sweep. This nonsense should stop. God gave us minerals to make a difference in our lives. We should ask them who is employed at their firms and doing what? We need to ask them where they are buying their cabbages,” he said.
Manicaland Provincial Governor Chris Mushohwe is on record blasting diamond companies for employed people from outside the province and urging local leaders not to fold their hands while their minerals continue to be extracted without any meaningful benefit to locals. None of the six diamond firms operating in Chiadzwa, namely Mbada Diamonds, Anjin Investments, Diamond Mining Corporation, Ginani Diamonds, Jinyame Diamonds and Kusena Diamonds have offices in Manicaland.
The diamond cutting and polishing centre being constructed in Harare was heavily criticised by the Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara last year. He said the centre should have been situated either in Marange or Mutare to boost infrastructural development and employment in the mineral rich area.
The $1.5 million Marange-Zimunya Community Share Trust launched last July to champion local development is yet to be realised and people are still waiting for the disbursement of the fund.
Post published in: News