Mining giant Rio Tinto announced on its website that Murowa Diamonds has won the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Best Corporate Social Responsibility Programs award for 2009, based in its community programs with a special focus on employee welfare and HIV/AIDS programs.



The Murowa Diamonds mine, which is situated near Zvishavane in the south western part of Zimbabwe, is 78% owned by Rio Tinto and began operations in 2004.

"This is a great achievement for us," said Niels Kristensen, Managing Director of Murowa Diamonds. "We congratulate our team at Murowa and all those who have partnered with us, within the community and beyond.



"Effective management of our community relationships is as important to our commercial success as is the management of our business operations," he said.



"During its six years of existence Murowa has worked with local partners and communities to ensure we played a significant role in the continued improvement of the local communities," he added.



Murowa Diamonds' community initiatives cover education, health, agriculture and business development. Murowa has built classroom blocks at schools in the district, provided text books and built and refurbished health clinics.



The company has helped upgrade local cattle stock, provided training for farmers and spearheaded a number of initiatives that enabled households to survive a period of prolonged drought. Further, with Zimbabwe experiencing one of the harshest AIDS epidemics in the world, Murowa Diamonds has facilitated voluntary testing and counselling facilities for employees and community members to encourage people to know their AIDS status.



Josh Sachikonye, the Managing Director of Riozim Limited, the 22% local shareholder in Murowa Diamonds, acknowledged the company's contribution to Zimbabwe's developmental and economic goals: "Here we have international partners who put their money and their hearts where their mouth is.



"We are extremely proud to be associated with the award; and more so with the achievements on the ground that benefit the people of Zimbabwe."