The August edition of the Green Governance Trust newsletter is out. The current edition covers interesting issues including Zimbabwe’s pursuit of a USD $12 billion 2030 vision, issues of contract transparency in the mining sector and the mineral resource curse haunting the Marange diamonds . For in-depth coverage of these issues read on.
The mineral resource curse haunts Marange’s diamonds
To account for diamond produce which translate to tangible community benefits has remained the foremost challenge in the extraction of gems in Marange communal lands. Yet once again it proves to be an excursion in the extreme, similar to tracing the edges of shadows of a sprinting leopard. Access to information on Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) production quantities is not guaranteed, even for the media which has a legal mandate to seek such access on behalf of citizens.
Despite an upbeat reportage of an annual profit posting by the ZCDC, the firm still records leakages as well oiled parallel syndicates continue to operate. Auditor General Mrs Mildred Chiri in her 2019 report states that diamond totals were not accurately accounted for raising suspicion that connivance or actual pilferage could have occurred. Recently a case of four locals allegedly temporarily trapped in debris while mining illegally, was swept under the rug as they were quickly rescued before the matter got complicated.
Read the rest of the newsletter here (810KB PDF)
Source: Green Governance Zimbabwe Trust
