The ManicaPost
Ray Bande in MARANGE
VILLAGERS in Marange have implored Government-owned Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Mining Company (ZCDC) to walk the talk in availing employment to local youths and not treat them as thieves.
This emerged at a no-holds-barred meeting between villagers and the Thematic Committee on Empowerment and Indigenization today in Chiadzwa.
Etwell Manhanga of Mkwada Village said there are certain jobs that do not need special skills but locals are sidelined because they are deemed thieves.
“We are aware that as locals we will never be considered for employment as security officers, pickers or sorters simply because the company suspects we steal from them.
“This is not fair because we are not thieves at all. There is no village that does not have bad apples but that does not mean that as a community we are all labelled thieves. We genuinely plead with ZCDC to consider us for employment,” he said.
Lovemore Mkwada of the same village said the relationship between the diamond mining firm and the surrounding community resembles that of a cat and mouse.
“There is no mutual trust and communication. We are pleading for speedy implementation of projects that the company promised upon inception. We want our youths to be employed and not the current situation wherein we have people from far away areas doing menial jobs here,” he said.
However, ZCDC acting chief executive officer Rob De Pretto said they have a clear mandate to strictly employ locals in jobs that do not require special skills and they are trying to live by that rule.
