Speaking during an interaction with women from across the political and social divide on Friday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Government is crafting a new diamond policy.
Mnangagwa also hinted at the introduction of more diamond mining companies, saying that the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) is being overwhelmed. Said Mnangagwa:
. . . the fact that there are diamonds is not a bad omen. I am sure you are aware that under the old administration, we banned seven or so companies, which were mining diamonds and we created one company. We have now realised that one company has no capacity to deal with the exploitation of this mineral, so we are in the process, with the Minister of Mines (and Mining Development Winston Chitando). He has a mandate from us to craft a new diamond policy which he is going to present next Tuesday in Cabinet. Incorporated to that diamond policy is the view that the communities around where minerals of this nature – diamonds, platinum, lithium and so on -are found, must benefit. So that is going to come with legislation so that people around areas with minerals benefit.
More: Herald