Diamond miners face eviction

Zimbabwe is losing millions of dollars in potential revenue monthly as lucrative diamond claims in Marange lie idle following a stand-off between Government and the former miners whose special grants to mine have since expired.

Government is now contemplating evicting the mining firms and repossessing the claims to generate revenue for Treasury and alleviate the country's liquidity crunch.

Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa said the companies were costing the country millions of dollars in potential revenue monthly by refusing to vacate.

Government decided not to renew the special grants for all companies that were mining in Marange on expiry after it emerged that some of them were siphoning billions of dollars out of the country through Idle diamond miners face eviction underhand dealings.

He said the continued refusal by the diamond companies to leave Marange was prejudicing the Government of potential revenue.