BY CLAYTON MASEKESA
MARANGE – The controversial Chiadzwa Community Share Ownership Trust (CCSOT) Chief Executive Office (CEO) – Hardwork Mukwada – is alleged to have been planted by secret agents in Marange to silence and weaken communities who are raising concern against unsustainable diamond mining that has continued to rob the community of their constitutional rights and freedoms.
Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) the traditional leadership and concerned villagers in the diamond rich area have accused Mukwada of using his position “to silence them” and at the same time trying “to protect or cover up” the open violation of human rights and looting of diamonds at the hands of mining entities and state security functionaries.
Marange community members say they feel betrayed by Mukwada whom they described as “greedy and stubborn.”
Responding to the allegations that he was planted into the Trust to silence and weaken concerns of the community, Mukwada said he is executing his duties well.
“I was not planted into the CCSOT. Rather, I was duly appointed by the Board as CEO through a formal legally binding appointment contract. Terms of the contract, through which l was appointed, are so clear as to my responsibilities and none of those terms spells out that l have to silence and sabotage concerns raised (by the community) as alleged,” said Mukwada.
Mukwada is also alleged of being used by secret agents to cause confusion and disrupt the CBOs and CSOS that are perceived to be enemies of government.
Mukwada responded by saying: “I have no intention to interfere with the operational space of any CBO or CSO. But, suffice to say, if any of these and anyone else make prodigal attempts to misrepresent the constituency that I represent, we will patiently correct the waywardness so that as a community we will maintain our unison of purpose and our strategic direction.”
The CCSOT is chaired by Chief Bernard Marange. Other board members include chiefs Zimunya, Zengeni and Chirasika among others.
The CBOs, CSOs and concerned villagers have accused Mukwada of receiving bribes and kickbacks from the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Companies (ZCDC) to sabotage and defend concerns raised against the company by the community members.
It is alleged that Mukwada has made several local and international trips sponsored by ZCDC. It is further alleged that Mukwada is being sponsored by the ZCDC to meet Minister of Mines, Winstone Chitando, as a representative of the Marange diamond community without consulting them.
Said a concerned member: “In all these trips and meetings, Mukwada is doing it while claiming that he is representing the Marange diamond community and he is not even consulting the members of the community, CSOs and CBOs on issues to be discussed. He is doing everything alone without consulting the community.”
He has been alleged of self appointing himself as the spokesperson of the Marange diamond community.
Mukwada responded: “It is not wrong for any member of the community to approach mining companies or even government to seek for assistance in resources for purposes of advancing the pro-community cause.”
He added: “In fact, those making allegations of me being bribed by the ZCDC are actually depicting what they have tried to do themselves, but, I have advised them that it is not constitutional. I have communication in black and white from the same persons raising the allegations.”
Commenting on the issue of the sponsored trips by the ZCDC, Mukwada said: “That is a lame and naked allegation, which betrays the one hurling at me. Sponsored by who? To go to meet Minister Chitando for what? When? The three occasions that I have met minister Chitando this year l was with community members. In fact l was with the community members who are putting across these allegations and they were all sponsored by the mining companies.”
He added that the international meetings he attends have nothing to do with ZCDC.
“I have affiliation to other organizations locally and internationally. These organizations do not report to the community, as they are autonomous. What should I do when an independent organization that I am affiliated to is invited to attend a function? All CBOs and CSOs have meetings that they attend through their organizations; do they declare who has funded them and their schedules of attendance?” Mukwada added.
Traditional leaders in Marange have also raised concerns over Mukwada’s behavior alleging that he has usurped power from them.
“I do not know what this kid is up to. He is running the show. He does not know his perimeters. He says he is representing the people of Marange on what grounds? We are the leaders of Marange and we know what our people want. He cannot speak on our behalf. We are the custodians of Marange and what he is doing is very wrong,” said a traditional chief.
“He (Mukwada) is not a traditional chief and we are surprised as to why he is acting as one. He is running up and down in all offices talking matters about diamonds and claiming to represent us, who is he? His conduct is causing problems in Marange diamond community. We are going to have a meeting very soon and we want to terminate his contract,” said the chief who is a board member of the CCSOT.
Responding to the claims by the traditional leaders, Mukwada said: “I am the CEO, I am qualified and legally empowered to speak on behalf of CCSOT and the constituency whose welfare I represent. I work with full consultation with the traditional leaders in the Marange diamond community and when I speak, it is because they would have mandated me to speak and my position depicts their position.”
The Marange diamond community has said Mukwada is defending government’s failure to meet its commitments on Marange.
