Maravi

(HERALD) Diamonds to knock out sanctions, says President

Diamonds to knock out sanctions, says President
Monday, 28 February 2011 20:19
From Cletus Mushanawani
in Chiadzwa

PRESIDENT Mugabe has said diamonds from the Marange fields are the punch that will knockout the West's illegal economic sanctions. Speaking to journalists after his maiden tour of the diamond-rich area, the President said he was really impressed by what he saw on the ground and Zimbabweans should safeguard such natural resources.

"These mineral resources are for us Zimbabweans and should benefit everyone.
"No one will tell us what to do with our resources. "By fully exploiting the mineral resources we have in the country, we will be telling the world that we do not deserve the sanctions imposed on us.

"We should fully use what God gave us and I am highly impressed by what is happening on the ground," he said.

The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces said his visit to the 69 000-hectare diamond fields was to get practical appreciation of the sector.

"My visit here was to learn two things, at least rough knowledge of the diamond wealth here and to establish how the companies that were granted mining licences here are opera- ting.

"I also wanted to have firsthand information on the techniques they are using to exploit the minerals," said President Mugabe.

The President - who was accompanied by Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, Manicaland Governor Chris Mushohwe, service chiefs and senior Government officials - first toured Anjin-Zimbabwe, a joint venture between Zimbabwe and China.

Anjin-Zimbabwe was granted the mining licence on February 4, 2010 and has hands-free state-of-the-art equipment.

The firm is yet to sell its diamonds as it awaits Kimberley Process Certification Scheme approval.

The company draws most of its labour from the local community and some expatriates from China.

Anjin-Zimbabwe has completed construction of 150 five-roomed houses at Transau Estate in Odzi where some villagers will be relocated to make way for mining operations.
President Mugabe then toured the Mbada concession where the mining manager, Mr Gerald Sithole, briefed the delegation on their operations.

Mbada is a joint venture between the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation and Grandwell Holdings of South Africa and has a concession of 1 050ha.
The firm is also building 50 houses at Arda-Transau as part of the first phase of the relocations.

Briefing President Mugabe and his delegation, Governor Mushohwe said ZMDC had recommended several investors to identify sites for possible prospecting permits.
He, however, expressed concern on the continuous panning activities taking place in the area.

"Generally the operations are proceeding well, but there are security threats due to illegal panning, which is continuing in this area. This issue needs attention.
"On the relocation exercise, I am generally happy with the pace of implementation by the three companies who are already building houses at Transau Estate namely, Anjin, Mbada and Marange Resources," he said.

Other companies mining in Marange are Marange Resources (formerly Canadile), Pure Diamond and Sino-Zimbabwe.

Labels: DIAMONDS, ROBERT MUGABE, SANCTIONS, ZDERA

posted by MrK @ 4:39 PM