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Gibson Mhaka
WHEN 15-year-old Tinashe Madzorore enrolled as a Form One pupil at Gandauta Secondary School in Chiadzwa, about 80 kilometres from the eastern town of Mutare, his childhood dream of pursuing a science-driven career was reignited.
Unlike his urban peers, Tinashe and millions of other children in rural areas attended a primary school that had no access to either electricity or a computer lab for Computer Studies.
Like many of his classmates at Gandauta Secondary School under Chief Marange in Ward 29 of Mutare West, Manicaland province Tinashe had never touched or used a computer until he enrolled for Form One, marking his first encounter with the machine.
From that day on, Tinashe and some of his classmates couldn’t get enough of the computers.
“I want to be a scientist when I finish school, but I initially had moments of doubt since l attended school in a rural area with limited resources, I wondered if my dream was even possible. “
“However, upon enrolling as a Form One student at Gandauta Secondary School, my aspirations were rekindled. The presence of computer and science laboratories opened up a world of possibilities, allowing me to actively engage in Computer and Science Studies,” said Tinashe oozing with confidence.
Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) constructed and equipped the computer and science laboratories at Gandauta Secondary School which were officially opened by President Mnangagwa on December 20, 2018.
Gandauta Secondary School which has an enrolment of about 250 pupils has benefited from ZCDC’s sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes, which are designed to spur community development in line with the company’s strategic thrust and the Government’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
The ZCDC community programmes are guided by the following pillars: Local enterprise development projects, agriculture, infrastructure, education, health and sports and recreation.
These pillars are designed to address the key needs of diamond communities and to help them to develop and thrive.
Speaking during a media tour of the Chiadzwa Diamond Mine last week, ZCDC head of public relations and community development Sugar Chagonda said ZCDC was partnering communities (Chiadzwa and Chimanimani) where it operates to develop local enterprises that create jobs and stimulate sustainable economic activity.
“In an endeavour to be a responsible corporate citizen to fulfil the Chiadzwa and Chimanimani community expectations ZCDC implements sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility projects to spur community development in line with our strategic thrusts, Sustainable Development Goals, the Diamond Policy and Zimbabwe Government’s National Development Strategy1 (NDS1).
“Our CSR initiative fits well with our Three Horizons framework of: Diamonds of Today, Diamonds of Tomorrow and Life Beyond Diamond Mining.
“While Horizon 1 emphasises production of diamonds to support the national fiscus and people’s well-being. ‘Today’, it is the basis upon which the future horizons are anchored. Horizon 2 seeks to finance the exploration of new mines while Horizon 3 is to ensure that the diamond mining is complete there will be sustainable projects for the benefit of future generations,” said Chagonda.
To ensure children in the communities are given an opportunity to get quality and affordable education, ZCDC refurbished and furnished two classroom blocks at Chirisa Primary School where pupils were learning in poor structures.
“We constructed two classroom blocks at Chiadzwa Primary School where modern furniture has also been provided. Construction and refurbishment work at schools around the community is being done in phases to ensure that learners have modern classrooms.
“We also provided technology such as computers, internet services, and science laboratories to improve the quality of education in the community. For example, we constructed, electrified and furnished a state-of-the-art computer and science lab at Gandauta Secondary School. This is just a model of what we plan to do for other schools in the communities,” said Chagonda.
Expressing his gratitude towards ZCDC for electrifying the school and constructing a state-of-the-art computer lab Gandauta Secondary School headmaster Pride Mukomberenwa said it was a testament to the positive impact that the company is having on the lives of people in the Marange diamond communities.
“Access to electricity and computers is essential for education in the 21st century. It allows students to access information and resources from all over the world, and to develop the skills they need to succeed in the global economy.
“The electrification of the school and the construction of the computer lab will have a number of benefits for the students, including improved access to information and resources and students will also be able to use the internet to research topics for school assignments and to learn about new developments in their field of interest,” said Mukomberenwa.
Turning to agriculture ZCDC community development manager Austin Watungwa said the company spends at least US$60 000 per month towards the purchase of consumables from the local community.
“The company provides a market for the readily available horticulture produce within the community. We are working with the traditional leadership to support the Zunde raMambo programme, by providing agricultural input support, such as seeds and fertilizers, to the community.
“We also support people who were relocated to Arda Transau to pave the way for diamond mining activities with agricultural inputs. As a company, we have three tractors for the community tillage programme, which mainly provides assistance to our communities with tillage, as Chiadzwa and Marange are dry areas,” said Watunga.
The ZCDC also refurbished a dilapidated structure in Chiadzwa and turned it into a sewing factory, equipped with state-of-the-art sewing machinery. The project has created employment opportunities for the community.
The company is also continuously rehabilitating the road network in Chiadzwa communities stretching hundreds of kilometres in collaboration with the Mutare Rural District Council (MRDC).
Commenting from a community position on relations between ZCDC and the Marange Diamond Community Dr Hardwork Mukwada who is also chief executive officer of the Chiadzwa Community Share Ownership Trust (CCSOT) said ZCDC and the community have a shared interest in the sustainable development of the Marange diamond fields.
This includes ensuring that the benefits of diamond mining are shared equitably among all stakeholders, and that the environment is protected.
“We have a direct relationship in which we handle our issues in a mature way, we are our own middlemen, our spokesperson and our own representatives on any forum that concerns or involves us. What we have is a Tripartite working mode as an international best practice yardsticked by the Kimberley Process.
“This involves the Government as regulator, business (ZCDC) and the community. This highlights the importance of collaboration and cooperation in ensuring that the benefits of diamond mining are shared equitably, and that the environment is protected,” said Dr Mukwada.
In 2011, Government effected the indigenisation and economic empowerment programme, one of whose facets were community share ownership trust/schemes (CSOT/S) aimed at ensuring that communities have shares in companies that exploit natural resources in their areas and use the proceeds from the shares to fund development projects in their respective areas.
CSOT/S were introduced after a realisation that local communities, whose natural resources are being exploited, must have a say through guaranteed shareholding in the companies operating in their areas. This is because those communities bear the environment, social and economic costs of extraction.
Although CSOT/S failed to live up to expectations, others have made positive changes to the lives of beneficiaries.
Siphakeme .Mnindwa
mbulelo smpofu
