ZCDC HEIGHTENS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DRIVE
The state diamond miner, Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) which is conducƟng business in Chiadzwa and Chimanimani, has adopted a deliberate policy of engaging the community through its tradiƟonal leadership and community development representaƟve trusts and other civil society groups.
Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company Chief ExecuƟve Officer Dr Moris Mpofu said ZCDC is part of the Manicaland community hence the need for symbioƟc co-existence with the community for mutual benefit.
“ZCDC is part of the community and as such we have adopted a deliberate policy of engaging the community through its leadership the tradiƟonal leaders and as well through civic organisaƟons and other key stakeholders. ZCDC is pleased with the producƟve engagements with all the tradiƟonal Chiefs in Marange and Chimanimani. Through these meeƟngs we have made needs assessments of their areas parƟcularly from a development point of view. As a result of these engagements ZCDC has rolled out a number of community development projects,” said Dr Mpofu.
ZCDC has deliberately taken the responsibility to ensure that the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans parƟcularly those from the immediate community are impacted posiƟvely from its diamond mining operaƟons.
Dr Mpofu added: “Corporate Social Responsibility and environment protecƟon and reclamaƟon take a pivotal role in our Diamond Mining Business Model's Sustainability pillar and as such ZCDC is implemenƟng a host of strategies aimed at improving the welfare of the community and protecƟng the environment in which it operates.”
Some of the notable projects that have been undertaken by ZCDC include construcƟon of Gandauta Secondary School Science laboratory block and installaƟon of electricity and computers, rehabilitaƟon of Banda primary school, rehabilitaƟon of Chiadzwa and Mukwada clinics, construcƟon of bridges and rehabilitaƟon of roads.
In a widely celebrated effort to address the perennial challenges of safe drinking water, the mining company has also championed the installaƟon of boreholes in various Marange and Arda Transau communiƟes. To date the company has installed and repaired over 15 boreholes in the Marange and Arda Transau area.
CommenƟng on the community engagement efforts by the ZCDC, Malvern Mudiwa the Chairperson of Marange Development Trust expressed saƟsfacƟon over the response by ZCDC to their reach out. The Trust, which also works hard to promote empowerment for all the people of Marange, parƟcularly the marginalised including the disabled, children, women and the elderly, is on the brink of signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the state diamond miner.
“We are pleased to note that some of the developmental needs we raised with ZCDC have begun to be addressed. For example, Mukwada clinic, which was on the verge of collapse is now being rehabilitated whilst the water situaƟon in Tinoenga village, which was patheƟc has been addressed. We are also pleased that as they had promised, refurbishment of the road that links Mukwada and Kusena via Betera has begun. As a Trust we definitely acknowledge such a gesture by the mining company”, said Mudiwa. Dr Mpofu highlighted that contrary to the expectaƟons of both the Community, Government, Civil society and other stakeholders, since the discovery of diamonds in Chiadzwa and the subsequent mining by previous miners, development in the Marange area bears liƩle resemblance of the wealth that the area has created, and has potenƟal to create. This is part of the reasons why ZCDC has taken deliberate acƟon to engage the community with the intenƟon of addressing key societal and environmental legacy issues that impact the wellbeing of the community and its environment.
“We acknowledge that a lot sƟll needs to be done and give assurance of our commitment to pay due regard to corporate social responsibility and environment protecƟon and rehabilitaƟon” said Dr Mpofu.
Though sƟll in its early years of existence having commenced operaƟons in 2016, ZCDC has made visible efforts to put in place sustainable community development programmes with a monthly budget set aside for community development. The company's involvement in community issues is visible. Despite the legacy of unfulfilled promises that have in the past and even now sƟll form the bone of the At a colourful event held in Mutare to launch the “Invest in Manicaland Magazine,” which ZCDC co-sponsored and supported with other companies in Manicaland, ZCDC was commended and honored for its different sustainable and effecƟve approach to Community development and empowerment.