It is four O’clock in the morning and Blessing Marange, a 34-year-old man of Takarwa ward 17 in Murirwa village in Marange area, dressed in tattered overall is already in the field spreading manure which he digs in the nearby mountains, he cannot afford to buy fertiliser as he is not formally employed.

The 34-year-old youth said the discovery of diamond fields at Chiadzwa or Marange, almost the size of Swaziland, in 2008 in Manicaland brought hope to Marange and many locals as they hoped to get employment from the mining companies.However, seven years after the discovery, Marange villagers and Zimbabweans at large still live in abject poverty seven years after the discovery of the diamonds field in the area. “Farming is the only source of income that we have, but this is a dry area - it’s not every year that we harvest. The other thing the maize that we grow is being marketed at poor prices. Mining companies that we expected to employ more locals here have failed,” Marange narrated.

“To some countries “riches” actually mean curses for the general populace. Some villagers were kicked off their land with no or little compensation. We benefited nothing the only people that benefited were the corrupt elite,” he bemoaned. The country at large hoped the precious mineral would bring billions of dollars and end decade long economic collapse.However, the discovery of the diamond fields believed to hold 25% of the world’s reserves of opencast extractable diamonds, have made a zero impact on the country’s economy.

Speaking at a public meeting organised by the Election Resource Centre (ERC) in Marange area citizens took turns to describe the sorry state of the diamond rich area.“Our roads are not being maintained. We also expected government to complete the construction of Chinyamurazu dam which is on the boarder of this ward and Matarikwa ward but nothing has happened,” said Marange.Another villager, Benjamin Mutsako said the hospital wards are few and have no linen, patients bring their own blankets and food.

“No ambulance for emergence cases, they used to call an ambulance from Mutare. Drug supply at the hospital is erratic,” Mutsako bemoaned.

In a bid to promote citizen participation in democracy and governance processes both at local and international level which has declined over the past decade resulting in lower voter turn-out during electoral events, ERC hold public meetings to improve political position of marginalised or vulnerable groups, such as women, youth and minorities that are often not taken into consideration.Tired of their situation citizens here decided to join hands and petition their councilor and the Member of Parliament in the area to address the situation.

Reports are that the quality and quantity of diamonds mined at the controversial fields has been on a decline since 2012 which has casted doubts over the possibility of the diamonds sector bailing out the country out of the economic woods.Citizens have since taken their concerns to a local councillor Gondai Mutambanashe of ward 17 through a petition.“Very few clinics were established after early 80s but lacked enough facilities to meet the large population in the areas they are sited. The declared Marange District hospital has very few buildings. The mortuary is too small and no equipment required for its purpose,” reads the petition. Since independence Marange Communal land has never experienced notable strives of development in sensitive areas like health and education villagers said in their petition.

The meetings, which have resulted in public participation enhancing citizens’ recognition of their responsibility to take action to improve their lives and the provision of basic social services, are held on a monthly basis in four provinces.