MINES and Mining Development minister Walter Chidhakwa yesterday said the government was yet to decide on whether to continue engaging international facilitator Global Diamond Tenders to auction its diamonds in Dubai.
Victoria Mtomba
This follows reports that the facilitator had failed to remit about $30 million raised from the last sale.
Addressing a Press conference in Harare, Chidhakwa said the problems had not been anticipated as Zimbabwe had traded its gems in Dubai since 2007.
“I think there was an expectation certainly that the amounts have to be paid within a certain timeframe and that was not done. The permanent secretary [Francis Gudyanga] has taken up the matter with the company responsible to ensure we look at what caused the difficulties,” Chidhakwa said.
The government in April conducted a diamond sale in Dubai and raised $30 million after the diamonds were sold at $76 per carat.
“We will be informed if this particular evaluator will be used or not. I cannot say that now. The team that was in Dubai will do an assessment and give a recommendation. We have used Dubai since 2007, I understand somewhere along the line Marange and Mbada were forced to open alternative bank accounts. I understand that they will now be transferring the amount to the companies,” he said.
Chidhakwa said diamond average prices were expected to increase.
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Meanwhile, Chidhakwa told the recently-appointed Mining Promotion Corporation board to carry out mineral resources exploration as the country had been relying on the private sector for exploratory work.
He said $5 million had been sourced for the company to start working.
The board chaired by Gudyanga, who is deputised by geologist and Bindura Nickel Corporation director David Murangari, also includes economist Brains Muchemwa, remote sensing specialist Ambrose Made, corporate lawyer Bertha Muzangaza, Earth Sciences consultant Catherine Machokoto, GIS expert Amon Murwira and Geological Survey director Mabasa Hawadi.
