Home News Dinde residents protest outside court

Dinde residents protest outside court

by Bustop TV News

By Romio Takundwa

The Dinde Community of Hwange, Thursday picketed outside the Hwange Magistrate Court in support of Dinde Residents Association Vice-Chairperson, Never Tshuma.

Tshuma was arrested on the 15th of April 2021 and is charged with inciting public violence after the community members resisted coal exploration by Chinese company, Beifa Investments.

The community is demanding that the charges be dropped.

Tshuma’s trial was postponed in May after the state failed to bring affidavits before the courts. His lawyer, Jolyn Change confirmed to this publication that her client had appeared in court but could not be attended as the state was not prepared

He was remanded to the 20th of July for trial.

Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) a civil society organisation that investigates human rights violations in the extractive sector have joined other like minded organisations in rallying behind Tshuma and the Dinde community.  

“We stand in support with Never Tshuma and the community and are alarmed by and oppose the repression of community activists who are defending their land, environment, cultural rights, and livelihoods,” reads part of their joint statement.

The statement further calls for the charges to be dropped and the case against Tshuma to be dismissed.  

The special grant issued to Beifa Investments covers 4070 Hectares in 4 wards, namely ward 13, 14, 19 and 20.

If implemented, the Chinese coal project will destroy at least 13 schools, a dip tank, thousands of homesteads, cultural heritage sites which include the gravesite of local traditional chiefs and several cemeteries.

The Chinese owned mining firm has reportedly told the community it has no financial resources to fund relocation and building of standard infrastructure for the affected families.

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