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Furore
over diamond share scheme
Obey
Munayiti, NewsDay
December 02, 2013
https://www.newsday.co.zw/2013/12/02/furore-diamond-share-scheme/
Tempers allegedly
flared during an induction workshop for Mutare Rural District Council
councillors and other stakeholders over the secrecy surrounding
the Zimunya Marange Community Share Ownership Trust last week.
Stakeholders
had met at a local hotel to be updated on the operations of the
Trust and the progress made so far.
All hell broke
loose after the National Indigenisation Economic Empowerment Board
(NIEEB) regional manager David Garwe refused to disclose names of
companies that had deposited money in the Trust’s coffers
so far.
Until recently
there had been reports that the Trust had so far received about
$400 000 out of the expected $50 million.
“We were
told that we have no right to know who had deposited the money and
who will be the signatories,” said one councillor who requested
anonymity.
“On all
our inquiries we were just brushed off until we said enough is enough.
We demanded transparency and as we joined hands as councillors to
press on the issue, other people started to threaten us saying we
have no right to know.
“We were
told to come up with project proposals in our respective wards,
but how can we do that without knowing how the Trust will operate.
“We will
continue to demand transparency until we get satisfactory answers.”
However, contacted
for comment, Garwe hit back saying some of the councillors were
misinformed over the Trust.
“Why did
they come to you? If they have disgruntlements they should come
to us for help,” he said.
“Councillors
are not stakeholders in the Trust and they don’t have the
right to know who deposited how much. They should be grateful that
they were told some of these things.
“Councillors
should only coordinate at ward level and they should not usurp other
people’s roles.”
President Robert
Mugabe last year launched the Marange-Zimunya Community Share Ownership
Trust with a pledge of an initial contribution of $50 million.
Speaking at
the launch Mugabe said: “Let me advise the trustees to refrain
from misappropriation
of resources from the transactions. We greatly hold our respected
chiefs with esteem and honour hence they are the ones entrusted
to lead their communities out of poverty.”
Several stakeholders
have in the past raised concern over the manner in which the Trust
is being operated.
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