Published: 14 October 2013

The Zimbabwe government has granted a license to Global Diamond Trekkers to explore for the gems in the Middle Save area of Manicaland province, about 100 kilometers south east of the Chiadzwa fields.

"Global Diamond Trekkers has been given permission to investigate the potential for mining diamonds in the Middle Sabi area," the company said in a statement.

The alluvial diamond concession lies in the Middle Save valley, about 167 km south of Mutare in Manicaland province.

Global Diamond Trekkers said it had since engaged a consultancy firm to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment for the project.

The company will in the short term conduct an exploration exercise to determine the extent of the resources. "This will be followed by selecting the optimum mining method and appropriate processing technology and equipment and allocating economic factors leading to project viability."

Thereafter it would seek compliance with industry regulator the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme. Zimbabwe is a notable diamond producer with huge reserves of the mineral especially in the Marange area.

The five joint-venture mines in Marange produced a combined eight million carats of the gems last year and generated at least $684 million in exports.

- New Ziana

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