ZIMBABWE – CHIADZWA – THE Chinese have struck riches in Chiadzwa after partnering government in mining gems from the controversial diamond fields.

ZIMBABWE – HARARE – According to figures provided to Parliament last week by the Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Gift Chimanikire, Anjin Investments (Private) Limited extracts an average of 234 749, 92 carats per month, compared to Mbada Diamonds’ 164 489,18 carats per month.

Marange resources, which is wholly owned by government through the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC), is third and last at 104 713,03 carats a month, bringing to the fore the parastatal’s incapacity to enhance production at a number of mines that now fall under its aegis.

Recent media reports said Sino-Zimbabwe and the Diamond Mining Corporation, two other companies that recently got diamond claims, have not yet started production.

But it is the Chinese who are in a no-nonsense mood in their diamond mining through Anjin, a joint venture between ZMDC and Anhui Foreign Economic Construction (Group) Corp limited, a public construction company under China’s Ministry of Construction, which was established in 1992.

The hard-work displayed by the Chinese appears to be motivated by the fact that a US$98 million loan extended to the government by a Chinese bank for the construction of a military college in Mazowe, would be serviced from proceeds from this particular diamond mining venture.

In his Parliamentary submission, Chimanikire said Anjin has stockpiles of diamonds because, unlike the other diamond mining firms in Marange, the company is yet to secure the Kimberley Process’ authority to sell the gems.

“Anjin has not yet been given the green light to sell their diamonds so their stock is piling and is around 2,5 to three million carats and are still waiting for Kimberley Process Certification Scheme inspection team and the meeting is going to be held in Democratic Republic of Congo very soon to get to know whether we are going to export,” said Chimanikire.

The deputy minister added that there were still problems in having proceeds from diamond sales remitted to treasury, a recurrent headache Finance Minister Tendai Biti has faced since the formation of the inclusive government in 2009.

To that end, Biti was said to have held a meeting with ZMDC and the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe.

“Just yesterday afternoon, I made enquiries as to whether funds from proceeds from sells of diamonds were being remitted to the Minister of Finance. The indication seemed to point out that there are delays in the release of these funds and the issue is currently receiving attention,” the deputy minister added.

He denied that there was secrecy on the part of mining companies operating in Chiadzwa, adding that a Cabinet Taskforce set up last year cleared all “misconceptions” and established that the selection of investors to prospect for gems in Marange was above board.

In terms of legislation, the deputy minister said principles for a draft Diamonds Bill expected to be tabled before cabinet before the end of the year have been submitted to the Attorney-General’s Office. FinGaz