THE EFECTS OF DIAMOND MINING ON THE PEOPLE OF BOCHA.A CASE STUDY OF CHIADZWA .FROM 2009-2016.

ABSTRACT

This research seeks to explore the effects of formal diamond mining on the community of

Chiadzwa. The research seeks to assess the challenges and problems that the community of

Chiadzwa faced from 2009-2015 which emanated from the formalized diamond mining in

Chiadzwa.2009 marked a turnaround in the diamond mining spectrum ,diamond mining in

Chiadzwa shifted from illegal to legal or formalized diamond were companies such as Mbada,

Anjin acquired mining claims from the Ministry of Mines .Mining in many countries such as

Botswana served as one of the major contributing economic activity to the country’s Gross

Domestic Project (GDP).Minerals such as diamonds if managed properly can positively change

the lives of the community and their environments . However, one cannot underestimate its impacts

particularly negative impacts (harm) on the community’s social .economic, cultural,

environmental and political life although mining sector contributes to the country’s economy

.These impacts can change the way of life of individuals, thus calls for attention. Due to the

formalized mining high rates of unemployment, poverty, land degradation, cultural erosion, social

disintegration and outbreak of diseases have put the Chiadzwa community in danger and have

called for stakeholder participation and mechanisms that mitigate these impacts. Effects of formal

diamond mining outweighs the potential socio-economic and environmental benefits of diamond

mining on the community hence the role of the government and other relevant stakeholders as

enforcers of laws, regulations and policies need to be clearly defined for the benefit and the

protection of the community. In an effort to divulge the effects of diamond mining on the community

the researcher used a qualitative research design. Interviews and focus groups were of great

importance to the researcher. The researcher employed simple random sampling.