Chiadzwa mining security personnel unleash vicious dogs to scare villagers

The move by MPs to conduct a hearing with villagers affected by Chiadzwa diamond field mining operations and their relocation was scuttled after mining security personnel reportedly unleashed vicious dogs.

This was meant to scare the villagers so that they could not meet with the touring MPs over other issues relating to diamond mining operations in the diamond-rich area, Newsday reported.

Mutare West MDC-T MP Shuah Mudiwa and Chiredzi West MDC-T MP Moses Mare, who were also part of the MPs delegation, said the vicious dogs were seen moving around the villages and villagers were scared to "even come out of their houses."

"There were a lot of fierce dogs roaming around the area and people were scared to even come out of their houses," said the MPs

But Uzumba Zanu-PF MP Simbaneuta Mudarikwa said there was "nothing sinister" about the dogs as they were part of the security system.

The committee chaired by Guruve South MP, Edward Chindori Chininga was on a tour of Chiadzwa to investigate firms extracting diamonds from Marange and to find out about corporate social responsibility programmes and the relocation of the villagers.

According to parliamentary rules, it is contempt of Parliament to deny committee meetings with people or access records they might desire to have.