A map showing Manicaland province, Zimbabwe. The government of Zimbabwe
has announced the discovery of diamond fields between Manicaland and
Masvingo province, stretching over 10,000 square kilometres.
GOOGLE MAPS
HARARE
Zimbabwe
says it has discovered vast new diamond fields ‘almost the size of
Swaziland’ and is planning to start mining there soon.
The
southern African country has become one of the top diamond producers in
the world after alluvial diamonds were discovered near its border with
Mozambique in 2008.
Companies operating in the Chiadzwa
diamond fields recently indicated that mining operations were becoming
unviable as the alluvial diamond resources were running out.
More
than five companies wanted to be allocated new claims saying
underground mining would be too expensive in a country that is
struggling to attract direct foreign investment.
According
to state media, the new diamond fields are between Manicaland and
Masvingo province, stretching over 10,000 square kilometres.
MOBILISING FUNDS
Mines
and Mining Development Deputy Minister Fred Moyo said the government
had already begun mobilising funds to carry out exploration in the
Umkondo basin.
He said a joint venture company was already exploring parts of the basin for diamonds.
“We are very much aware of the potential diamond reserves in the Umkondo Basin,” Mr Moyo was quoted saying.
“We
are actually going to use part of our national budget allocation to
send our experts to carry out exploration activities in the area.
“The
Umkondo Basin is a reserved area. It has huge potential of diamond
reserves and as government we need to urgently move in to determine the
areas that possess a high concentration of diamonds.
“It
is a very huge area. So, obviously the whole area cannot contain a
large concentration of diamonds, but the fact is there is huge
potential. What we need to do is mobilise funds to carry out extensive
exploration that will determine the areas profitable to mine,” he added.
“We
have not done much exploration of the basin, but the joint venture
company is mining diamonds in Chimanimani and they are also carrying out
exploration in the areas surrounding their concession.”
The
discovery of more diamond fields comes at a time when President Robert
Mugabe’s government has expressed concern about poor revenue inflows
from companies mining the precious gems.
All the
companies that were granted mining licenses at the Chiadzwa diamond
fields formed joint ventures with the Zimbabwe Mining Development
Corporation
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