Parly raises red flag over Marange communities

RYAN CHIGOCHE

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development  has raised disquiet over deplorable conditions people relocated  to Arda Transau from Marange  to pave way for diamonds mining are living in.

The community is also said to be insecure about their future as  title deeds to their houses are yet to be issued, 16 years after they have been relocated.

In a fresh report, Parliament said “ the community are living in deplorable conditions with no basic amenities as the area is currently overpopulated”.

“Furthermore, the community has no access to clean water and electricity. A call was made for more land to be acquired to depopulate the community at Arda Transau.

“The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works was called upon to address this issue,” part of the Parliament report reads.

“There were no written agreements or contracts on the relocation programme. As a result, communities could not hold the companies accountable for unpaid compensation.The community at Arda Transau stated that they did not have title deeds for their houses which makes them insecure about the future,’’ the report said.

Several  mining companies  were awarded licenses to extract diamonds in  Marange diamond fields in Chiadzwa district, Manicaland Province from 2006.

Mining concern, Anjin Mining, relocated 466 families, whilst Jinan Mining relocated 129.

Mbada Diamonds relocated 102 families, and Marange Resources and DMC relocated 44 and 40 families, respectively.

Kusena evacuated two families, while ZCDC, which took over the relocation effort, was only able to relocate 23 families.

However, the relocated families have expressed disquiet over severe headwinds  confronting them.