‘New ZCDC boss targets unfulfilled community projects’ 19 June 2019

Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) acting chief executive officer Roberto de Pretto says he hopes to leave a positive and lasting legacy at the troubled diamond mining firm in Marange, as he seeks to engage the community on unfulfilled promises. He made the remarks on Monday while addressing journalists in Marange after meeting the Parliamentary Thematic Committee on Indigenisation and Empowerment on a tour of the diamond mine. De Pretto said the company should be given a chance to address issues affecting the community. “I want to [leave] a positive and lasting legacy so that one day, when the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company finishes mining, people here will say ‘I love this company (ZCDC)’,” he said. “I want you to name your first born and last born ZCDC, because you will remember me after the company has finished mining. You must give us a chance and hopefully, results will start coming, because as you are aware, it is very easy to speak than to take action. I believe there is a lot of work that needs to be done.”

De Pretto said the company had limited resources to help meet the needs of the community because they have not been selling diamonds. “There was change at the top leadership of ZCDC, which is about 50%, but it’s up to the board to appoint a substantive executive on those positions. But despite the changes, we are clear on corporate social responsibility which looks at the community,” he said “We will be looking at the province of Manicaland and we then look at the country as a whole, but our first focus is on the community. We have limited money obviously, but we have a budget. If we don’t sell our diamonds, then we continue to have problems with our community.”