Online Reporter
Features and Supplements Writer
The Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) showcased several of its capital expenditure projects at this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).
The projects have seen the volume of diamond ore mined and stripped increase by 41 percent to 8,9 million tonnes in 2023, up from 6,3 million tonnes in the preceding year.
The 65th edition of the ZITF took place from April 21 to April 26 at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo, under the theme “Industrialisation: Crafting an integrated economic landscape”.
The focus was on showcasing cutting-edge advancements in manufacturing, technology, agriculture, and value-added services.
In an interview ahead of the fair, ZCDC corporate affairs executive, Mr Sugar Chagonda, said ZITF presented an enormous opportunity to engage with the organisation’s external stakeholders with a view to establishing strong, mutually beneficial relationships.
He said ZCDC’s vision was becoming a world-class diamond producer, and they were delighted that the theme aligned with that aspiration.
“In less than 10 years of existence, ZCDC had made great strides in the diamond mining value chain. We recently commissioned a new Deep Boiling Facility at our Chiadzwa Mine, which is a firm commitment towards industrialisation and the optimisation of our operations,” Mr Chagonda said.
ZCDC’s output has been on an upward trend following the acquisition of equipment to ramp up production. Over the past two years, the company had invested in different diamond mining equipment, such as the jaw Area 700 plant phase 2 and the conglomerate detachment plant.
In December, the company commissioned the Deep Boiling Facility, which added value to the precious stones before shipment.
The company also invested in state-of-the-art security systems, such as automated searching equipment, which played a crucial role in the reduction of pilferage. As a state-owned diamond company, ZCDC complies with the requirements of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
