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Mpofu warned of diamond uprisings

MANICALAND Provincial Governor and Resident Minister Christopher Mushowe has warned Mines minister Obert Mpofu and diamond mining companies in Chiadzwa against taking away diamonds from the province while doing nothing for the people of the area.Addressing guests at a mines and mineral policy work...

Zimbabwe to sell diamonds directly to China

Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe will set up offices in Shanghai and Dubai this year to sever intermediate links and sell precious stones, including diamonds, directly to China and the UAE.The corporation is a wholly government-owned company which falls under the ambit of the Zimbabwe Mini...

More diamonds discovered in Zimbabwe

In an exclusive interview with Michelle Moshelian of the Israel Diamond Institute, Zimbabwe's Minister of Mines and Mining Development Dr. Obert Moses Mpofu discusses developments in the country's diamond sector. He discusses how changes in attitude from the Kimberley Process towards the diamond mi...

Murowa Mine's diamond production decreases

PRODUCTION at Murowa Diamond Mine has decreased from 98 000 produced during the first quarter to 79 000 carats, the parent company Rio Tinto has said.The mine's first quarter output was however higher than the corresponding period in 2012 when 66 000 carats were produced.Murowa Mine, which is situat...

Biti demands transparency in the sale of Zimbabwe's diamonds

Finance Minister Tendai Biti has demanded for transparency in the sale of country's diamonds in order to use the revenue from the precious stones to fund this year's elections.After the successful holding of the referendum on the new Constitution on 16 March, Zimbabwe is expected in a few months to ...

Zimbabwe's 'blood diamonds' flood Dubai

FOR years, Zimbabwe has faced disapproval for its human rights abuses, farm seizures and political repression.International sanctions have targeted President Robert Mugabe's inner circle and the country's economic pillars such as the diamond industry, revenues from which have allegedly been used to ...

Britain eying Zimbabwe diamonds

The British government invited Zimbabwe for talks aimed at normalising relations between the two countries largely because the former colonial power wants to benefit from the local economy following the discovery of diamonds in Marange, a Cabinet minister has said.Speaking on Star FM radio programme...

Murowa Diamonds criticises govt mining policies

MUROWA Diamonds, a unit of global mining giant RioTinto, has blasted government mining policies saying they were not supportive of the mining sector, warning that the current regime of ground rentals fees is threatening the viability of local mines.Murowa Diamonds communication and external relation...

War vets demand 20% stake in Marange diamonds

War veterans in Mutare are demanding a 20% stake in the Marange-Zimunya Share Community Ownership Trust saying there has been no equitable distribution of wealth in the country since 1980. Mutare district war veteran chairman Charles Tirivavi Rugwadi told Zanu-PF secretary for administration Didymus...

Foreign stampede for Zimbabwe diamonds

More than 300 foreign companies have applied for licences to mine diamonds in Marange in a development expected to bring Zimbabwe under the spotlight at the Dubai Diamond Conference which kicks off this Tuesday.The two-day-conference, which seeks to explore strategies around expanding the world diam...

Diamonds have discovered in Budzi, Bikita

FOUR kimberlitic pipes rich in diamonds have been discovered in Budzi communal lands in Bikita near the border with Manicaland Province. The four rock formations infested with diamonds discovered here, experts say, are likely to see Zimbabwe consolidating its position as one of the top world diamond...

Government plans to seal off new Bikita diamond fields

Government plans to seal off newly discovered diamond fields in Masvingo province's Bikita district to halt illegal mining of the precious stones, Mines minister Obert Mpofu has said. Mpofu said government had decided to control access to the area to avoid a repeat of Marange diamond fields free-for...

UK strikes deal for Marange diamonds to return to the EU markets

Reports from Brussels, Belgium suggest that the United Kingdom has struck a deal with Belgium on the need for Marange diamonds to return to the European Union markets.According to the reports, Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders and Britain's William Hague clinched the deal on the 14th of Febru...

Indian diamantaires pin hopes on Marange diamonds

Diamantaires in world's biggest diamond cutting and polishing centre in Surat are looking at Zimbabwe for the required supplies of rough diamonds during the year as diamond production of mining companies like De Beers has decreased phenomenally.Two of the largest diamond mines in the world -- Canada...

Zimbabwe to double Marange diamond output

Zimbabwe expects diamond production from its Marange fields to double to 16,9 million carats this year as companies ramp-up production in a region where human rights groups have flagged concerns over rights abuses, state media reported on Tuesday.The government through its mining firm Zimbabwe Minin...

Zanu-PF officials to be investigated for diamonds fraud

ZANU-PF's Presidium has ordered police to takeover investigations of the five senior party officials from Manicaland who are facing allegations of fraud and corruption involving more than US$700 000 they allegedly collected from diamond mining companies.This latest development came about after the ...

'Zim diamonds being bartered for arms of war,' says Chimanikire

Gilf Chimanikire, Zimbabwe's Deputy Mines Minister has leveled serious accusations at the nation's armed forces, accusing it of colluding to trade the country's rough diamonds for weapons, Rough and Polished reported. Chimanikire said that the nation was not earning as much as it should for its ro...