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Article

5 Dec 2016

Author:
Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association, in collaboration with 8 other NGOs

Press statement by NGOs in Mutare on forced eviction of villagers in Chiadzwa reportedly by Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company

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We the undersigned note with concern the following:

  • That industrial diamond mining in Chiadzwa has led to the displacement of people in Marange since 2009, (Hansard report, October 2016)
  • Evictees to date are over 1300 families (7000 people are affected)...
  • That previous evictions and relocation of villagers have been accompanied by opaque compensation arrangements, and serious disruptions of affected villagers’ livelihoods and way of life,
  • That since ZCDC effectively commenced mining operations in March 2016, the company has reneged on its obligations and liabilities...
  •  That ZCDC continues to expand operations into Chiadzwa’s Tinoengana village, without consulting villagers or engaging them in any way

We take lessons from previous evictions of Chiadzwa communities to Arda Transau....While the previous arrangement was conducted in cahoots with foreign owned companies, the current evictions are being driven by the Government of Zimbabwe in violation of the Constitution...We demand the following:

  1. Immediate cessation of forced evictions of the identified 26 families (about 130 people) and others yet to be identified until the process is agreed in consultation with the communities
  2. Immediate cessation of threats and intimidation of villagers by the District Administrator and state security operatives, themselves meant to coerce villagers in Tinoengana to agree to forced relocations
  3. Immediate cessation of mining operations in Tinoengana and surrounding village by ZCDC...

 

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