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• Chronicle
• December 16, 2011
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Mutambara loses case

By Leonard Ncube
DEPUTY Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara yesterday lost the case

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• Chronicle
• December 16, 2011
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Diamond firms unfazed by sanctions

From Mkhululi Sibanda in Chiadzwa and Makhosi Sibanda in Bulawayo
THE two Zimbabwean diamond mining companies, Marange Resources and Mbada Diamond Mining that have been added on the United States sanctions list, have said they are not perturbed by the development and will continue with their operations as usual.

According to the latest US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Affairs Control, the two firms have been added onto the “specially designated” updated nationals list.
Officials from the two companies told local and foreign journalists during a tour of the Marange Diamond Fields organised  by the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) on Wednesday   that the sanctions would not in anyway  stop them from carrying out their operations.

The move has been viewed as a ruse to frustrate efforts to improve the country’s economy through diamond sales as it came shortly after the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme granted Zimbabwe the nod to unconditionally export its gemstones from the Marange fields.
Mines and Mining Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu is on record as  saying Zimbabwe was geared to become an economic giant after the KP approval.

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• December 16, 2011
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Prime Minister Tsvangirai insists we will sell our gems

Harare Bureau
PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday said civil servants will get a salary increase next year only if revenue from diamonds increases.
Speaking in Parliament while making an end of year address, PM Tsvangirai said even the good performance of the Government would be hinged on the diamond industry.

PM Tsvangirai said Zimbabwe would be able to sell its gems despite sanctions imposed on diamond producing companies by the United States.
This was a major shift by the PM whose MDC-T party has been siding with non-governmental organisations to prevent the country from getting an international clearance to sell diamonds from Marange.
Zimbabwe was given the green light to trade in the precious gems by the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme last month.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti budgeted $600 million, which he said was expected to come from diamonds in the 2012 fiscal year.
“We expect that with increased inflows from diamond sales revenue, we must be able to make meaningful adjustment to civil servants’ salaries and conditions of service,” said PM Tsvangirai.
“While there is no provision for an increase in the current budget, the only hope is that diamond revenues will exceed the budgeted $600 million, with surplus being put to improving conditions of service for civil servants.”