Headman Chiadzwa laid to rest

Mutare- The late Mutare West headman, Robert Chiadzwa, who died after a heart attack last
week, has been laid to rest at his rural home in Marange.
He was 91.
His son, Newman Chiadzwa, said the death had left the family and the Marange community
at large, deeply saddened.
 “It is a sad moment in the family and the villagers here in Marange.
He died on Saturday after suffering a heart attack. We have lost a great
pillar of strength that will be difficult to replace. We will continue
to cherish his good works,” he said.
The headman vigorously championed the interests of his community
over natural resources in the area, particularly diamond mining.
Marange is one of the richest diamond mining areas in the country,
with several local and international companies operating in the region.
The government, backed by local leaders such as headman Chiadzwa, came
up with empowerment policies that ensured that communities around
important natural resources also derived a benefit from these in the
form of shareholding and infrastructure development.
Headman Chiadzwa was vocal in pressing for his community's benefit from
diamonds in the area, and against illegal mining which had proliferated
in the region.
In strongly pressing the demands, he and 27 other members of his
community were at one time arrested and charged with public violence.
Headman Chiadzwa is survived by his wife and five children.
New Ziana