The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) has said Government is not being sincere in claims that it is not aware of diamonds in the Penhalonga area.
A meeting was called at Tsvingwe Primary School by the Minister for Provincial Affairs Mandi Chimene and unlike previous meetings this one had officials from the Ministry of Mines, Mutasa RDC, Chief Mutasa and several government bureaucrats. The MP for Mutasa South Irene Zindi was also present.
Minister Chimene said she had called the Minister of Mines concerning the claims by ZCDC officials that they ‘suspected’ there were diamonds in Tsvingwe.
According to her Minister Chidhakwa said he knew nothing about the issue. The Minister said people must relax and ‘berekanai muwande’ without fear of any uncertainties. She said if it were true that there were diamonds in Tsvingwe then Redwing Mine were fools for failing to discover that first.
Chimene said what was happening were Environmental Impact Assessments and this was a countrywide operation which was for environmental purposes only and had nothing to do with minerals underground.
“Our understanding of EIAs is that they precede mining or other big projects likely to affect the environment and the residents,” the Centre said.
Minister Chimene called an official from the Mines Ministry who read out a list of minerals found in Manicaland and the districts in which these are located and the official concluded there are no diamonds in the area.
Minister Chimene said she had also received complaints about title deeds. She however said this was a complex issue. First she said Mutasa Rural District Council itself has no ‘Mother Title Deed’ for Tsvingwe and therefore this is also affecting the residents. She then said the process is costly and very bureaucratic.
Some residents interjected by demanding RDC officials to address them on title deeds, specifically to comment on the Mother Title deed to which the Minister said there was no need for RDC to speak.
No resident was allowed to ask a question and the meeting lasted for about an hour
“There is definitely something happening in Tsvingwe but has been put on hold for some reastrue, Zindi said she had spoken to Deputy Minister Fred Moyo who confirmed exploration work in Tsvingwe. Thus the point that the Ministry was not aware is not true,” the centre said.
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