Opinion / Columnist
Chiadzwa: Can Parliament make a difference!
13 Jul 2011 at 20:32hrs | Views
It is very frustrating to know that Zimbabwe's diamond wealth could be the key to turnaround the economy, but is instead the preserve of smugglers, powerful cliques and syndicates. Ironically, people are starving and struggling to make ends meet.
It is disappointing to note that the powers that be are not in a hurry to comply with the Kimberley Process 100%, making the situation at the Marange diamond fields reminiscent of Edward C Barnfield's The Moral Basis of a backward society, like where he wrote:
"In other cases, the rich got their money by cheating, stealing or exploiting the poor. It is not brains," Anna said. I have as much brains as any of them. The only difference is that I have never a cent that I could put to work for me. If I had a little, I believe I could put it to work for me too."
That is not very different from what Human Rights Watch was told by a member of the Police Support Unit based in Manicaland:
"During the time I was based in Marange at the end of 2007, together with a colleague we controlled six syndicates with a combined total of 102 members. We would grant them access to the fields, and they would dig for diamonds while we guarded them and then hand over the diamonds to us to sell, and then we shared the proceeds equally, giving 50 percent to each side. My government salary for three months was less than US$5, but from the diamond business together with my colleague we made more than US$10,000 in three months"(Hrw.org).
Therefore people expect Parliament to go beyond government's scrutiny of the goings on at Marange diamond fields in a non partisan matter and in the national interest. Parliament can make a difference by ensuring the New Diamond Act will demystify diamond mining and make it more accountable, responsible and transparent in its interaction with civil society and the environment.
The Parliamentary Committee on Mines should be able to interview the key players at the Marange diamond mines – the relevant Minister, the company executives, the army chief General Chiwenga and Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri.
The Minister of Mines, Obert Mpofu – can he shed light on the secret behind his 'rags to riches' story especially after allegations by the Canadile Miners executive that Mpofu allegedly sought bribes from his company. The committee should ask the Mines Minister, when will Zimbabwe join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) which ensures the availability of verifiable data about extraction, sale and export of diamonds.
Parliament should be able to summon diamond mining company executives at Chiadzwa like the Chairman of Mbada Investments, Robert Mhlanga to upraise the committee on mines on his company's corporate governance and social responsibility in order to dispel rumours and allegations of smuggling that he has 24/7 permission to fly his helicopter in and out of Zimbabwe without being searched.
Can Canadile, Anjin and ZMDC executives explain how Zimbabwe is benefiting from their secretive operations at Chiadzwa amidst reports of night-time cargo planes leaving the mine's airport loaded with diamonds to unknown destinations.
From the distressing dusty images of miners or panners available online, the committee should probe the mining executives on what verifiable measures are in place to ensure health and safety, competitive remuneration for employees as well as fair compensation for displaced families.
The committee would be applauded if it manages to summon General Chiwenga and ask him, When will the military leave Chiadzwa? Which authority is operating the Chiadzwa Airport? Are there bona records of the flights, manifests of their cargo and destinations? Are these flights authorised by the Kimberley Process?
As for Police Commissioner, Chihuri: Why is civil society under siege? For the Speaker, the question is, Can we have the latest Hansard online please! 'Chiadzwa: Can Parliament make a difference?'
Contact author: zimanalysis2009@gmail.com
It is disappointing to note that the powers that be are not in a hurry to comply with the Kimberley Process 100%, making the situation at the Marange diamond fields reminiscent of Edward C Barnfield's The Moral Basis of a backward society, like where he wrote:
"In other cases, the rich got their money by cheating, stealing or exploiting the poor. It is not brains," Anna said. I have as much brains as any of them. The only difference is that I have never a cent that I could put to work for me. If I had a little, I believe I could put it to work for me too."
That is not very different from what Human Rights Watch was told by a member of the Police Support Unit based in Manicaland:
"During the time I was based in Marange at the end of 2007, together with a colleague we controlled six syndicates with a combined total of 102 members. We would grant them access to the fields, and they would dig for diamonds while we guarded them and then hand over the diamonds to us to sell, and then we shared the proceeds equally, giving 50 percent to each side. My government salary for three months was less than US$5, but from the diamond business together with my colleague we made more than US$10,000 in three months"(Hrw.org).
Therefore people expect Parliament to go beyond government's scrutiny of the goings on at Marange diamond fields in a non partisan matter and in the national interest. Parliament can make a difference by ensuring the New Diamond Act will demystify diamond mining and make it more accountable, responsible and transparent in its interaction with civil society and the environment.
The Parliamentary Committee on Mines should be able to interview the key players at the Marange diamond mines – the relevant Minister, the company executives, the army chief General Chiwenga and Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri.
The Minister of Mines, Obert Mpofu – can he shed light on the secret behind his 'rags to riches' story especially after allegations by the Canadile Miners executive that Mpofu allegedly sought bribes from his company. The committee should ask the Mines Minister, when will Zimbabwe join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) which ensures the availability of verifiable data about extraction, sale and export of diamonds.
Parliament should be able to summon diamond mining company executives at Chiadzwa like the Chairman of Mbada Investments, Robert Mhlanga to upraise the committee on mines on his company's corporate governance and social responsibility in order to dispel rumours and allegations of smuggling that he has 24/7 permission to fly his helicopter in and out of Zimbabwe without being searched.
Can Canadile, Anjin and ZMDC executives explain how Zimbabwe is benefiting from their secretive operations at Chiadzwa amidst reports of night-time cargo planes leaving the mine's airport loaded with diamonds to unknown destinations.
From the distressing dusty images of miners or panners available online, the committee should probe the mining executives on what verifiable measures are in place to ensure health and safety, competitive remuneration for employees as well as fair compensation for displaced families.
The committee would be applauded if it manages to summon General Chiwenga and ask him, When will the military leave Chiadzwa? Which authority is operating the Chiadzwa Airport? Are there bona records of the flights, manifests of their cargo and destinations? Are these flights authorised by the Kimberley Process?
As for Police Commissioner, Chihuri: Why is civil society under siege? For the Speaker, the question is, Can we have the latest Hansard online please! 'Chiadzwa: Can Parliament make a difference?'
Contact author: zimanalysis2009@gmail.com
Source - Clifford Chitupa Mashiri
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