Harare: Zimbabwe’s diamond output dropped 6 percent to 567,024 carats during the first quarter of the year from 603,590 carats produced a year earlier, according to data released by the finance ministry.
The ministry attributed the decline to the transitional challenges involving the consolidation of former diamond companies into one state company, the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC), since February last year.
“Government is already working on addressing challenges related to legal wrangles and capitalisation of ZCDC,” said the ministry in its quarterly report.
“Furthermore, secured equipment, to the tune of $30 million, is expected to support higher throughput.
“Increased production will also be aided by the expected resumption of mining at Mbada mid-April 2017 and DTZ-OTZEGO in July 2017.”
Zimbabwe’s finance minister had last November projected the country’s 2017 diamond production at 1.9 million carats underpinned by envisaged “successful” capitalisation and full production at ZCDC.
