Paragraph 18 of the final Communiqué from the Kimberly Process Plenary meeting in Washington DC last November, which lifted the special monitoring on Marange Diamonds, recommended that the Government of Zimbabwe should immediately address the issue of artisanal mining in order to combat smuggling and address security incidents at the mines.
The government’s reluctance to address these issues has been confirmed by the granting of more mining licenses in Marange to foreign entities at the expense of local communities – a situation that continues to promote illegal artisanal panning activities. To date seven companies namely: Marange Resources, Ge Nyame, Anjin, Mbada, Zimbabwe Diamonds, Jinan, and Diamond Mining Company (DMC) are either government-owned or are joint ventures between entities in government and foreigners. No known efforts have been made by government to grant a single diamond mining concession to the local community.
In his presentation to the Mines and Energy Portfolio Committee workshop held at Leopard Rock in Mutare on March 26, attended by CRD, Michael Fungati, a director in the Ministry of Indigenisation, Youth and Economic Empowerment could not convince legislators and civil society representatives of his ministry’s reasons for circumventing Parliament and local MPs in the implementation of Community Ownership Schemes. Neither could Mungati explain why no funds had been remitted to Zimunya/Marange Ownership Scheme eight months after it was launched. Our worst fears were confirmed by the Provincial Administrator of Manicaland, Fungai Mbetsa, during his presentation on the Relocation Model used for Marange. He was asked about the origins of Rera, a new company that has started relocating villagers in the area.
He said the biggest challenge was to find land to relocate more than 14,000 families affected by the mining operations and that he had no knowledge of these companies because everything was coming from Harare through the Ministry of Mines without any consultation with local government.
His statement sharply contradicted with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines, Prince Mupazviripo, who at the same event alluded to the fact that local government was involved in issuing special mining grants through the District Affairs Board. The recommendations are forwarded to the mining affairs board, the ministry of mines and then the President. The incoherence in policy implementation reflected here remains a governance crisis that must be addressed if reforms in this sector are ever to benefit impoverished local communities.
Human rights abuse case studies:
Admire Munindwa (30) of Mutare: Sometime in December 2012, he and two friends entered the Anjin concession at 3.30pm to pan for diamonds. They were immediately spotted by the guards who fired at them with Mossberg guns.
Admire fell down and the guards disappeared fearing that they had killed him. He was later picked by the reaction team who took him to the mine’s medical officer, who gave him pain killers. Admire was operated on to remove 8 Mossberg bullets from his hip and arm but he is now facing financial challenges to pay for an operation to remove the remaining bullet in his abdomen.
He says the company promised to pay for his medical bills. He waited for three days after the officials had dumped him at the clinic but they never returned.
Watson(27) of Mount Selinda, Chipinge: sustained two deep cut wounds on his left leg when dogs were set on him by Anjin guards on February 19 in the Jesi Anjin concession. His sister took him to Chipinge for treatment.
Arumando Zeca (36), of Chipunga Beira based at Checheche in Chipinge: was beaten by four security guards and one Chinese national around 8am in the Chirasika mining area of Anjin.
He sustained a deep cut on his head and he was complaining of hearing problems in his left ear when a community monitor interviewed him. He lost 3grams of rough diamonds and he had to sell his Nokia C 2 for $37 in order to raise transport costs to travel back home for treatment.
Obert Musarira (23) of St Mary’s in Chitungwiza: went into Marange plant dumping area, met with the reaction team around 2am who set dogs on him and his colleagues. His friend Tyson was bitten on the right hand and Brian on the left leg. Obert sustained a big cut on his left leg. CRD assisted Obert to receive medical treatment through the Counselling Support Unit (CSU) victims fund in Mutare.
John Mutakura (34) years of Zimuto Camp area, Masvingo: was going to fetch water and relish for lunch when he met with National Eye Security and members of the uniformed forces around the Chiadzwa restricted area at 9am.
He tried to run away but was overpowered and bitten by two dogs. He sustained serious cuts on his head and leg. He was bandaged and given betadine solution with some paracetamol tablets at Mbada Clinic and later dumped at Hot Springs road block where the police gave him free transport to his rural home in Masvingo.
Collin Kusina (29) of Waterfalls, Harare: was spotted by four security Anjin guards early in the morning coming out of Chirasika mining area. He tried to escape but was caught and severely beaten and sustained dog bites on his back and leg. He was dumped at Nyanyadzi Clinic bleeding profusely. He received treatment there and he left for Harare.
Tariro Saungweme (25) of Mutare: was caught panning for diamonds in the Marange Resources area at 10.30pm with his syndicate of four people and was arrested after intense and heavy beating.
He sustained a deep cut on his forehead and two members of his syndicate bitten by dogs and rushed to the mining clinic for treatment. They were later dumped at Hot Springs business centre. Tariro went to Birchenough Bridge for further treatment and was discharged the following morning.
Panganai Sigauke (45) of Gaza in Chipinge: was found in the Jesi mining area of Anjin panning for diamonds early in the morning when he was attacked by two dogs and three security guards. He was severely bitten all over his body.
He was dumped at Hot Springs police base. The police took him to Nyanyadzi clinic for treatment and he was discharged the next morning after they had bandaged him and given him betadine and some paracetamol tablets. Panganai later went to Chipinge General Hospital for further treatment and was reported to be in a stable condition.
Netsai Nechipote (27) years of Tanganda Tea Estate, Chipinge: was caught by Mbada guards in the Mbada mining area during the night with a syndicate of six panners. The guards ordered the panners to lie down and others fled leaving Netsai at the hands of the guards. She was severely beaten on the buttocks and taken to the guard room for further beating.
She was released the next morning and dumped close to Odzi River by company guards. Netsai received $3 from a local business woman for transport back to Chipinge. She was complaining of severe pain in her back, toes and left leg. Her condition remains unknown.
Aaron Mazodze (33) from Madondo Primary School: was seriously beaten by Mbada guards when found panning for diamonds in their concession around 9pm.They also set dogs on him and he sustained deep cut wounds on his chin and left arm. He collapsed for several hours after the beating and was eventually taken to the company clinic where he was bandaged and then released.
His condition later deteriorated and he was hospitalized at Birchenough Bridge clinic for three days. Upon discharge he was provided transport by Mbada Diamonds to travel to his rural home in Masvingo.
Shangiro Chakanyuka (32) of Mbeure village in Chipinge : was severely assaulted by 12 National Eye Security guards of Marange Resources at 2pm one and half km away from an area called “6 corner” a mine dump of Marange Resources.
He had joined a group of five panners who sneaked into the unfenced mine dump where they had apparently managed to search for diamonds without being noticed by the guards. However they were eventually spotted by the reaction team. He received 20 strokes under his feet ,30 on his buttocks and 50 on his back .The guards also took $35 from him. He was later rescued by his colleagues who helped him get to a clinic for medical assistance.
Post published in: Politics
The so called victims were thieves who had been caught doing what they know ‘stealing’ and they got what they deserved