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000 carats per month, Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Gift Chimanikire told the House of Assembly yesterday.
He said this while responding to a question by Mazowe Central legislator Shepherd Mushonga (MDC-T) on mining activities in Marange and the status of laws regulating diamond mining in Zimbabwe.
“There is no secrecy in the mining companies operating in Chiadzwa. The Cabinet taskforce established by Government last year cleared all misconceptions about Chiadzwa,” he said.
The taskforce made up of the Ministries of Mines and Mining Development, Defence, Finance, Industry and Commerce and Economic Planning and Investment Promotion was established to ensure that Zimbabwe complied with Kimberley Process requirements.
Deputy Minister Chimanikire said Mbada was mining approximately 164 489 carats per month, Marange Resources, 104 713 while Anjin was extracting 234 749. “I, however, have to notify the House that Anjin is sitting on between 2,5 million to 3 million carats of diamonds because they are not yet certified to sell,” he said.
The deputy minister, however, said he was concerned by delays in remittance of proceeds from diamond sells to Treasury. “Yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) I made inquiries as to whether funds were being remitted and the indications I got are that there are delays and that matter is being looked into right now,” he said.
He said contrary to perceptions in some quarters, Zimbabwe had laws regulating the diamond industry that includes the Mines and Minerals Act, the Precious Stones and Trade Act and the Minerals Marketing Corporation Act.
Online Reporter