ZMDC to prospect for more diamonds

be endowed with gold deposits and covers Marange, Chimanimani, Checheche and Birchenough Bridge.
ZMDC chairperson Mr Goodwills Masimirembwa confirmed the development.

“The 1,8 million hectares cover Marange, Chimanimani and Checheche, right up to the point where Save River goes into Mozambique.
“They are all highly prospective for diamonds.”
Mr Masimirembwa said the huge area had signs of diamonds and plans were under way to carry out extensive exploration.
“We are going to explore for diamonds in the entire 1,8 million hectares.

“Apart from diamonds, the area also has gold deposits,” he said.
If exploration is done and diamonds are discovered there, Zimbabwe could become the world’s largest diamond producer.
An independent forecast by Rapport last month indicated that Zimbabwe would become the second largest diamond producer in six years, doubling its market share to 17 percent.

The forecast was dependent on mining activities at the Marange diamond fields alone.
Zimbabwe is ranked seventh in the world after producing diamonds worth over US$334 million last year.
The diamonds accounted for six percent and nine percent of global market share respectively, according to the second diamond industry report prepared by Equity Communications.

This was despite the imposition of illegal sanctions on diamond mines by the United States of America           and its continued interference in the sale of the gems on international markets.
Sanctions have made it difficult for Zimbabwe to fully benefit from its diamonds at a time                                                  it requires funds to turnaround an economy paralysed by the illegal embargo.

Botswana is the world’s top diamond producer followed by Russia, Canada, South Africa, Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe grew its production of diamonds by 1 000 percent in the last three years to 11,1 million carats last year.
It is projected to reach 14. 5 million carats valued at US$1,7 billion by 2014.
There are four companies mining diamonds at Chiadzwa, namely Mbada Diamonds, Marange Resources, Anjin Investments and the Diamond Mining Company.