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so had an adverse effect on investment.
MDC-T legislators argued that there was need to nationalise the gems to ensure greater transparency, while those from Zanu-PF shot down the argument as devoid of reasoning.

This emerged during a motion by Bulawayo South MP, Mr Eddie Cross (MDC-T), calling for the State to take over the mining of gems because there was no transparency.
The motion was adopted despite opposition from Zanu-PF legislators.

The Zanu-PF lawmakers argued that nationalising the gems had far reaching repercussions on investment. “If you nationalise diamonds, capital will run away,” said Mberengwa East MP, Cde Makhosini Hlongwane (Zanu-PF). “We are at a critical stage of economic recovery where we need to resuscitate the economy.”

Cde Hlongwane said complaints were abound that State entities were not performing well and nationalisation would create inefficiencies.
On allegations of human rights abuse by the security forces at Marange, Cde Hlongwane said if there was anyone with evidence to that effect it should be submitted to relevant authorities. He warned MDC-T

legislators against pandering to the whims of some non-governmental organisations that did not want Zimbabwe to benefit from its mineral resources.
Chiredzi North MP, Cde Ronald Ndaba (Zanu-PF), questioned the rationale to call for the nationalisation of Marange diamonds alone, excluding other mining firms such as Murowa Diamonds and Zimplats.

He accused MDC-T legislators of obsession with parroting foreign interests, saying they did not want blacks to be economically empowered.
Mbizo MP, Mr Settlement Chikwinya (MDC-T), alleged that firms extracting diamonds at Marange had secured claims irregularly because they were connected to senior Zanu-PF officials.
The allegations drew indignation from Zanu-PF legislators.
He alleged that the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation was contracting some of its board members on consultation services in violation of corporate governance practice.
“We should nationalise diamonds and include Treasury and Zimra in the production and this is for the benefit of Zimbabwe,” said Mr Chikwinya.
Makoni West MP, Mr Webbo Chinyadza (MDC-T), said the Auditor and Comptroller General’s Office had no capacity to make audits of diamond production, hence the need to nationalise it.