The Zimbabwe government is reporting the discovery of three large diamond deposits.
According to local media, significant deposits of diamonds have been found outside the Marange fields and steps are being taken to set up a body to explore the areas of Binga and Tsholotsho, both in Matabeleland North, and parts of Masvingo, along the road to South Africa.
According to Mines Minister Obert Mpofu, the ministry is short-listing candidates to head what is expected to be called the Zimbabwe Minerals Explorations Corp.
If the discoveries pan out, Zimbabwe could become one of the world’s top producers of diamonds.
The African nation has been at the centre of controversy since late 2008 when the military moved in and killed 200 illegal diamond diggers. After much debate, the Kimberley Process (KP) approved two supervised exports of diamonds from the fields last month.
