following the discovery of the gem in the Marange area of the eastern
province of Manicaland within the next five years, an expert has said.
Zimbabwe was on its way to toppling countries such as Russia, Botswana and
South Africa as the top diamond producer, International diamond consultant
Fillipe van Laere said on the sidelines of a ceremony to mark the
establishment of the Zimbabwe Diamond Technology Centre (ZDTC).
Diamond mining company Canadile Miners Private Limited is spearheading the
establishment of the USD 20 million project at this town located some 5 km
from the capital, Harare.
Van Laere, who is based in Belgium, has been in Zimbabwe for close to a year
assisting the country to meet requirements of the international diamond
watchdog, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS).
The KPCS last month granted Zimbabwe permission to sell diamonds from the
Marange diamond fields following a protracted battle between the country and
western countries such as the United States and Australia which were against
selling of the gems, labeling them "blood diamonds".
"Until very recently, Zimbabwe was a secondary player in the international
diamond business. If you look at the statistics in 2008-2009, they show that
Zimbabwe was in 12th position, however with the new diamond finds in
Chiadzwa whose production can reach 40 million carats per year and USD 2
billion per year in revenue.
"Zimbabwe is simply propelled to the number one spot as the world's most
important diamond producer in the next two or three years," said van Laere.
He added that it was crucial for Zimbabwe to establish two more well
equipped diamond mining companies to boost production of the gems. There are
four companies involved in diamond mining at the moment.
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