Dismantling of Chiadzwa Mafia mining companies commendable

The recent move by the government through the Ministry of mines and mining development to dismantle mafia organisations masquerading as miners in Chiadzwa area is a step in the right direction as the move is likely to achieve transparency and accountability in the diamond sector if the intentions are people-centred rather than an being electioneering project .

For starters, it is important to note that since the time of the inclusive government, companies such as Mbada diamonds and Anjin have been pillaging and plundering our resources giving paltry figures towards are fiscus and this is against a backdrop where these companies are said to be getting hefty profits of millions if not billions of dollars annually.

Chiadzwa diamonds are our diamonds as people of Zimbabwe and we do not afford to place their exploration and marketing in the hands of the Chinese. If the so called "Mega deals" were in exchange of our precious gem then the authors of these agreements must think twice. The exploitation of our resources must benefit the indigenous Zimbabweans first unlike the eyesore situation that was obtaining in Chiadzwa where the poor employees could go for months without getting their meager income. Least I talk of the pollution of the Odzi River and other sources of water for people in Manicaland and the surrounding areas.

It is my conviction that the move by Minister Chidhakwa is aimed at addressing these pressing anomalies emanating from the plunder and lootage of our resources by these companies. I applaud the minister for staying put despite a hoodoo of criticism from various quarters particularly from the opposition groups and private media. We have become a country of critics where general consensus has become an abomination. It is not quite too long when the media particularly the private media where denigrating on the lack of transparency on the part of these companies exploiting our diamonds in Chiadzwa. I do not remember reading a favourable piece from any of our mainstream papers romanticizing the operations of any diamond company, but l must say their coverage on the government's move to suspend operations of these companies is bloodcurdling to say the least.

 It is also quite alarming to see that people such as Tendai Biti who used to complain on the opaque nature of diamond governance in Zimbabwe brushing off such a noble initiative. The Minister's move must viewed as a step towards the nationalization of our diamond resources and we expect people such as the vocal Farai Maguwu  to give glowing remarks since this is what they have been fighting for years through their advocacy group, Centre for National Resources governance. His conspicuous silence is a cause of concern to some of us who have been religiously following the drama on diamond exploitation in Zimbabwe.

While the move by Minister Chidhakwa must be given kudos, Zimbabweans have every right to doubt the authenticity of every policy or initiative by the Mugabe administration for history tells us that Mugabe's policies have never being about the people but power retention. So this move can be viewed as a measured to ensure that ZANU-PF has adequate financial resources for the purposes of denying people their right to free and fair elections. If this narrative is anything to go by, the money acquired through merging these companies will be channeled towards oiling the state machinery which has proved to be a very reliable palm used by Mugabe to quell dissenting voices.

In line with your indigenisation policy, Zanu-PF fat cats such as our own Kasukuwere will grab part of the 50% meant for local investors under the consolidated diamond company. Remember his tenure as the Indigenisation minister, the combative stance he took and his eventual lies to the head of state and government that all companies operating in the Chiadzwa area had complied with the indigenisation policy regulations. Zimbabwe should brace for an action-packed 2018 election if this move was indeed taken with the election in mind.

Who are we to contest an initiative that looks so noble on paper? Maybe Mugabe has had his Damascus moment and now is his time to practically put people first despite the fact that the past 36 years was about him and his cronies. If this is so, then let me be the first one to agree with his last year's 21 February movement that "with age comes wisdom" but history tells us that with Mugabe age comes with more subtle means to deceive the generality of the populace.

Musavengana Hove is a budding political writer. Email soldierjournalist@gmail.com for feedback.