The Zimbabwean government wants to explore for diamonds in the country's eastern highlands and is seeking $32 million to fund the project, Deputy Mines and Mining Development Minister Gift Chimanikire was quoted saying in Zimbabwe's Daily News.

According to the News, recent reports of rough diamond discoveries in that region have prompted the government to set off on a search for the gems. Any such venture would also include renewed exploration at the Marange diamond fields.

Zimbabwe continues to unearth some of the world's richest diamond deposits even as exports of its rough product remains under an international embargo, albeit a weakening one.

While the Kimberley Process and the World Diamond Council are taking a strong line against trade in diamonds from Marange, South Africa's diamond regulator recently decided to allow imports of Zimbabwean diamonds, and members of India's diamond industry are pressing their national government to follow suit.

In October 2010, Zimbabwe's Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu reports that the government had identified three new diamond fields: in Binga, on the shore of Lake Kariba; in Masvingo, approximately two hours away from the Chiadzwa diamond fields; and in Tsholotsho in western Zimbabwe.