Team explores for diamonds in Karoi Minister Walter Chidhakwa
Minister Walter Chidhakwa

Minister Walter Chidhakwa

Oliver Kazunga, Senior Business Reporter
The Government has deployed a technical team to Karoi in Mashonaland West amid suspicion of new diamond discoveries in the area.

Addressing delegates during a small-scale miners’ conference at the just ended Mine Entra expo in Bulawayo last week, Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe deputy general manager responsible for marketing, Mr Masimba Chandavengerwa, said the Government was committed to exploiting diamond deposits from all corners of the country.

“A team has been deployed in the Karoi area looking at the gemstones discoveries in that area as we speak. We are saying to you small-scale miners, if you see some of these stones that you suspect to be precious stones, don’t use them to kill birds otherwise that stone has more value than the bird itself’,” he said.

Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa is on record saying although the country has been let down in the diamond sub-sector, the Government has since taken a bold move to ensure transparency in the diamonds sector through the creation of the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC).

Before the formation of the ZCDC, which has taken over diamonds mining in Manicaland, about seven companies who were mining in Marange had their operating licences cancelled due to lack of transparency.

Last week, ZCDC chief executive officer, Dr Moris Mpofu told delegates attending Mine Entra that his company has stockpiled 1.1 million carats of diamonds since January.

In 2016, ZCDC generated $42 million from 961 538 carats it produced. The ZCDC boss attributed the decline in diamond output to depletion of alluvial diamonds. ZCDC has to venture into capital intensive exploration and mining of kimberlite diamond.

Since January when ZCDC began investing in exploration and valuation, diamond production has been on the increase with monthly output reaching peak of 238 547 carats in June.

The diamonds firm has also received $80 million capitalisation from the shareholders and the funds are being used to buy exploration, mining and processing equipment. — @okazunga

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