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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Marange, Chiadzwa and other diamond fields and the Kimberley Process - Index of articles
Arrest
of Canadile diamond mining directors
Centre
for Research and Development
November 05, 2010
The Center for
Research and Development (CRD) welcomes the government initiated
investigation into circumstances surrounding the awarding of diamond
mining licence to Canadile Miners in 2009.
The CRD has
always maintained that laid down tender procedures were not followed
in the awarding of mining tenders in Marange
Diamond fields. Lawful procedures should at all times be followed
toensure a healthy selection process that identifies an investor
with both capacity and easily verifiable experience in diamond mining.
Whilst the scope of the investigations is not yet clear, the probe
should be extended to all the mining licences which in this instance
were covertly awarded to mine in Marange.
Diamonds are
non renewable yet a critical resource for economic development in
any country. As such Zimbabwe ought to make the most out of this
precious stone while it lasts. It is indeed highly regrettable that
a fraudulent company was allowed to milk Zimbabwe of diamonds worth
billions of dollars whilst our hard working citizenry wallow in
poverty. We note with concern that scarce public resources, in an
ailing economy were deployed including the police and national army
to secure further resource plunder by this fraudulent company whilst
it prejudiced the state and the people of Zimbabwe.
CRD calls upon
the government to leave no stone unturned in this probe as this
may only be a tip of an iceberg. A serious commitment to transparency
and accountability in the diamond sector will set Zimbabwe on the
highway to a speedy economic recovery. Our neighbours Botswana and
Namibia have shown us that with political will and a commitment
to accountability and transparency, diamonds can shape the economy
of a nation. At the CRD we envision a day when profits from Zimbabwe's
natural resources will contribute meaningfully to the country's
education, health, agriculture and infrastructural development.
The alarming levels of poverty in this country are an insult in
view of the vast natural resources spread across this great nation.
In this regard,
the CRD will continue to press the government for transparency and
accountability in the way it conducts public business.
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for Research and Development
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