Anjin Apologises For Mining Diamonds Without Headman Chiadzwa’s Blessings
A Chinese diamond company, Anjin Investment, has publicly apologised to Headman Chiadzwa for resuming operations in his area without paying a courtesy call to the traditional leader first.
The company resumed operations early this year but did not pay a courtesy call to the traditional leader as per traditional protocols.
Speaking at Headman Chiadzwa compound last week during a visit by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development led by Edmond Mukaratigwa, Anjin human resources manager Amon Mhlanga, said:
We would like to apologise to Headman Chiadzwa for our failure to pay a courtesy call when we came back to mine in his area.
We are very sorry and we admit that we erred. We did not follow the protocol to visit the headman and advise him of our presence in his area.
Mhlanga also tried to assure the community that their company was no longer involved in egregious human rights violations. He said:
We know there are legacy issues but we promise you to resolve some of the outstanding issues.
Our company is not yet financial strong like ZCDC (Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company).
We are still trying to make things work but definitely, we will attend to community issues.
He promised to engage his Chinese counterparts on the issue of respecting local cultures and observing human rights.
Also present at Headman Chiadzwa’s homestead were community-based, and civil society organisations among other stakeholders.
Anjin is a joint venture between a Chinese company, Anhui Foreign Economic Construction, and Matt Bronze Enterprises, which was formed by Zimbabwe’s Defence Ministry and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF).
Anjin operated in Chiadzwa from 2009 to 2016 before the government revoked licences of all diamond companies operating in Chiadzwa leading to the formation of the Zimbabwe Consolidation Diamond Company (ZCDC).
