Huge diamond and gold deposits have been discovered in Masvingo province in Chiredzi and Mwenezi. The rich minerals were discovered in Chingwizi area at Nuanetsi Ranch and northern parts of Chikombedzi, followed an aero-magnetic survey commissioned by Government through the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development last year.
aero-magnetic survey was performed by a local firm Aero Surv Zimbabwe, and assisted by a a South African firm Xcalibur Airborne Geophysics. The survey was launched by the Minister of Mines and Mining Development Winston Chitando last year at Buffalo Range.
Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister and Zanu PF chair for the province Ezra Chadzamira welcomed the development as it is set to improve the fortunes of the province and the nation at large.
“Huge diamond deposits were discovered around the Chingwizi area in Mwenezi while gold was found in northern Chikombedzi following an aero-magnetic survey commissioned by the Government. The Ministry of Mines will outline the next course of action after this discovery, but we are excited as a province because this will help grow our provincial Gross Domestic Product and also help the nation achieve its target to make mining a US$12 billion industry by 2023,” said Chadzamira.
Winston Chitando requested the questions to be put in writing when asked about the discovery of gold and diamonds in Masvingo.
Chitando said the government of Zimbabwe wanted to exploit kimberlite diamonds as part of the new diamond policy being pursued by his ministry.
Previous experiences in Zimbabwe show that the general populace is not likely to benefit from the discovery of minerals as experienced during the Manicaland diamond discovery in the late 2000s to early 2010s>Chaosafrica
