Tsvangirai impressed with Zim diamond mining

PRIME-MINISTER Morgan Tsvangirai is impressed with operations at the four diamond mining companies in Chiadzwa diamond fields and will continue to re-engage the West to remove sanctions imposed on the country and the firms.

He said a committee for the re-engagement has been resuscitated to negotiate with the West.

The PM was speaking to journalists after touring the four diamond mines in Chiadzwa diamond fields where two of the mining companies, Marange Resources and Mbada Diamonds have been placed under sanctions.

The Diamond Mining Corporation has also been put under sanctions.

Anjin Investments is in join venture with Government through the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation.

"Principals have dealt with the issue of sanctions, we will continue to re-engaging with those who have put the sanctions or those restrictions and the committee on re-engagement has been resuscitated," said PM Tsvangirai.

The PM said he was impressed with operations at the four diamond mines and Government was concerned with the revenue coming from diamonds.

He added that he had a meeting with civil servants representatives concerning salary reviews and a rise in diamond revenue will translate to improved salaries for civil servants.

"I am really impressed and we need to further our efforts to marketing of the diamonds. Diamonds are a major contributing factor to our fiscus and we have to put everything together from this resource," he said.

Zimbabwe has been finding it difficult to sell its diamonds because of the illegal sanctions.

The PM was accompanied by Mines and Mining Development Minister, Obert Mpofu, Agriculture Minister Joseph Made, Finance Minister Tendai Biti, Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister Tapiwa Mashada, Labour and Social Services Minister Paurina Mpariwa, Housing Minister Giles Mutsekwa and Manicaland Governor Chris Mushowe.

Minister Mpofu said diamond auctions had already started and there had been activity at the newly certified diamond mine DMC. The new firm recently sold diamonds worth US$30 million.

Without giving a figure, he said diamond sales will be high this year as two additional mines will be selling.

Minister Biti in his 2012 National Budget projected that US$600 million would come from diamonds sales into treasury.

However, officials at the four companies said Zimbabwean diamonds are fetching an average of US$40 to US$80 a carat when other diamond producing countries are fetching an average of US$1 200 a carat.

Minister Mpofu said: "They have placed us on sanctions as we are trying to raise funding through the sale of our diamonds and that is why they are demonising us for trying to fund economic development and improve the lives of our people."

Briefing the PM, DMC deputy managing director Mr Gilliam Sithole said his company had invested US$35 million into operations and an additional US$7,5 million will be used to relocate about 114 displaced families to make way for the mine.

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