HARARE - People from Chiadzwa who are facing imminent relocation after the discovery of diamonds have said that they are prepared to leave only if they are allowed to exhume bodies of their ancestors buried in the area. Speaking to The Zimbabwean on Sunday Chiadzwa Development Fund President Lovemore Mukwandi said that the government had a responsibility to compensate the people of Chiadzwa who had suddenly become victims instead of beneficiaries of the rare gems.
Travelling in Chiadzwa is restricted due to a huge presence of the military and police who have cordoned off the area. The area is militarised and the people cannot travel freely, buses no longer ply the roots. For many people Chiadzwa is about diamonds, but for us Chiadzwa is our home. We belong there and need to be compensated. We are failing to move in our villages. There is also need to look at the cultural aspects. We cannot live the graves of our forefathers behind, said Mukwandi.
Although many people in Zimbabwe are Christians, traditional beliefs still run deep in the hearts of the majority. Many believe that there are guided by the spirits of the dead. We want to move with our ancestors we cannot live them behind, otherwise who will guide us. This does not mean that we are not prepared to move, we are but we need to be consulted and our customs to be respected, added Mukwandi.
Zimbabwe intends to relocate 44 families of Chiadzwa at ARDA Transau Farm in Odzi. Every family needs US$50 000 in order to be moved the government should give us the money from Chidzwa diamonds, they should also employ our children, said Mukwandi.
Post published in: News