Irrigation scheme under threat from Chinese firm
Saturday, 24 December 2011 15:40
BY CAIPHAS CHIMHETE
ANXIETY has gripped small-holder farmers at Nyanyadzi irrigation scheme in
Chimanimani district after a Chinese mining company hinted it might order
them to stop farming to enable the firm to mine diamonds in the area. The
company, which is also mining diamonds in Chiadzwa in Marange district, has
told villagers that they might cease farming operations once they harvest
the crops if presence of the gems is confirmed.
Villagers who spoke to The Standard last week said if the company was to
start mining in the area, hundreds of families would lose their source of
livelihood as they rely on the irrigation scheme for survival.
“They (Chinese) came here and did some excavations where they took some
stone and soil samples,” said one villager.
“They said if the results confirm availability of gems we would have to stop
farming as mining operations would have to commence but this will affect a
lot of families that solely survive on this irrigation scheme for food.”
The scheme, which is in geologically dry region five, irrigates 440 ha of
land cultivated by some 500 plot holders.
Councillor for Ward 8 in Nyanyadzi, Charles Dirikwe confirmed that a Chinese
company had visited the area and took some samples.
He said he had a meeting with officials from the company and the district
administrator, where assurance was given that the small-scale farmers would
not lose their plots and houses without compensation if the mining venture
was approved.
“They said they would discuss further after seeing the results of the
samples they took,” said Dirikwe.
“If they are to do that (mining), they would have condemned us to death
because for decades we have been surviving on this irrigation scheme.”
Dirikwe said the Chinese company officials were being assisted by one
Colonel Dube, who was acting as the interpreter. Efforts to get a comment
from Dube were fruitless.
Acting Chimanimani district administrator Simon Sigauke refused to comment
referring questions to Manicaland provincial governor, Christopher Mushowe,
who could not be reached for comment.
Nyanyadzi smallholder irrigation scheme is situated in the Muusha communal
lands, 100km south of the city of Mutare.
It receives water, by gravity, from both the Nyanyadzi River and Osborne
Dam, several kilometres upstream on the Odzi River.
Councillor for Ward 20 Zekias Nhachi also said officials from the same
Chinese company had also attempted to take samples from Gudyanga area, 10km
from Nyanyadzi, but were blocked by the local leadership since they had not
sought permission.
“They were about to start excavation where we bury our traditional leaders
and this is the same area where we perform traditional rites such as
rain-making ceremonies,” said Nhachi.
The threat of evacuation of plot holders comes after several hundreds of
families were displaced from Chiadzwa to make way for diamond mining
operations. The families have since relocated at ARDA Transau Estate, about
24km from Mutare.