The ultimatum was issued by Manicaland Minister of State Mandi Chimene on Friday. “The community share trust is a thorn in my flesh. I’m told only $400,000 has been paid of the entire amount pledged, please may the balance get to me. I’m giving you one and a half months to pay up. I’m not negotiating,” she said.
Only, Anjin Investment and Marange Resources have paid $200,000 each into the trust. Each diamond firm pledged to disburse $10 million. The militant legislator threatened that failure to comply would result in government confiscating diamonds worth the 10 percent.
“If you can’t raise the money come and negotiate, we have done that in other projects. But if you are not keen to negotiate and can’t afford to give us the cash, you will give government the sorted stones worth the 10 percent and we will engage our own buyers,” she said.
Chimene issued similar threats to ethanol producing firm Green Fuel in a different meeting.
The business community was attended by various company management officials while Green Fuel was represented by its assistant general manager Raphael Zuze.
“We want our 10 percent from you (Green Fuel). This is why I wanted company owners here not management,” she said. “You said government should put radical measures (against foreign imports), well I’m now making radical measures to also force you to cede what belongs to us.”
Zuze could not comment on the matter as it required the attention of his superiors.
Post published in: News