Zimbabwe to start extracting conglomerate diamonds

Zimbabwe is expected to start extracting conglomerate diamonds in the Marange fields soon, that have more value compared to the alluvial diamonds that have been mined in the area so far.

Officials from Government-owned Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) said the firm had started buying efficient technology to mine the conglomerate diamonds, which are located deeper than the alluvial ones.

This would see Zimbabwe matching other diamond producing countries in the region such as Botswana, Angola, South Africa and Namibia.

ZCDC acting chief executive Ridge Nyashanu said they were contracting miners and mobilising resources to buy their own machinery.

He said ZCDC was now in charge of diamond processing, as he acknowledged that their initial projections of about seven million carats per year could not be met as a result of a number of challenges.