Marange diamond licences expires

Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa has said that diamond mining licences for companies operating in the Marange area have expired.

This comes as some of the companies in the area were resisting Government's push for a consolidated diamond entity.

Government plans to create a consolidated mining company for diamonds which would bring order in the sector and was in line with recommendations from other regional countries such as South Africa and Botswana that have been mining the gems longer.

There are seven companies operating in Marange, namely Mbada Diamonds, Anjin, Marange Resources, Gye Nyame, Kusena, Jinan and the Diamond Mining Company.

Commercial operations in the Marange area started in 2009.