Prior to the discovery of the Marange diamond fields, the country had two known diamond mines.
The two are Rio Tinto’s Murowa Diamond Mine and a privately-owned River Ranch Mine.
For years there was a deafening silence regarding the diamond industry in Zimbabwe, until Marange gems dredged up on the scene in 2006 sparking what is commonly known as a diamond rush.
Harare dispatched ruthless security personnel in a frantic bid to bring sanity in the diamond area.
Civic groups, however, claimed thousands were killed during the clean up exercise, an allegation the Zimbabwean government refuted.
Smuggling of diamonds also became rampant; while some overzealous civic groups branded Marange stones, “blood diamonds”, a move that later saw the Kimberley Process suspending the export of these gems.
By Staff Reporter
ZANU PF has described the death of Zimbabwe’s inaugural ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a blow to the country’s attempts to wade off its pariah status and re-engage with the international community.
Jethro Ndlovu died aged 66 at a local hospital in Harare Saturday after a short illness, and according to media reports, he succumbed to Covid-19.
In a condolence message, Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu said Ndlovu’s death has also left Zimbabwe vulnerable to further imperialist attacks.
“Cde Ndlovu’s death renders the unremitting outcomes of Zimbabwe’s engagement and re-engagement policy vulnerable to further imperialist attacks. Indeed, our diplomatic battlefront has lost a dedicated frontline arm bearer,” he said.
Zim envoy to UAE dies
He was 66.
Acting Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira said the late diplomat, who was posted to the UAE in 2019, died at a Harare hospital following a short illness.
“The late Ambassador Ndlovu died at a local hospital in Harare after a short illness,” said Prof Murwira in statement.
“Details of funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course.”
In 1984, he joined the Air Force of Zimbabwe Aeronautical Inspection Services as a vibration and balancing inspector.
He was later promoted to Officer Commanding Aircraft Servicing Squadron as a maintenance manager at Thornhill Air Force Base in 1986. He rose through the ranks to become quality assurance chief aeronautical inspector in 1996. He had a short stint at Northland Engineering and Falcon Air, where he worked as a technical manager and general manager respectively between 1996 and 1998.
FRESH startling details have emerged indicating how the late former President Robert Mugabe and his family worked with extop parastatal and security bosses to ship high-grade diamonds and ivory out of the country.
Mugabe – who died in September 2019 – was as shrewd in underhand dealings as he was in politics, according to exclusive information obtained by the Zimbabwe Independent, this week.
This comes amid reports that his vast farming empire under Gushungo Holdings is crumbling, with workers owed salaries, while part of the estate in Mazowe – 40km north of Harare – is being leased to a millionaire businessman.
In private briefings this week, it emerged that Mugabe and his family could have had a close working relationship with the then Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) commissioner-general Gershem Pasi through a diamond cutting and processing company – Gemgrade Mining Company.
David Brown
IN 2019, the Government launched a roadmap to grow the mining sector to US$12 billion by 2023 through leveraging on the country’s diverse mineral wealth.
Some critics described the plan as over-ambitious as it was likely to be stymied by lack of foreign direct investment, inefficient utilities, poor transportation, particularly rail, and lack of skills and competencies.
However, the Government, in partnership with foreign investors, has come up with a strategy to take the lead in driving investment in the mining sector following the establishment of Kuvimba Mining House an anchor company likely to be a game-changer.
Currently, the Government holds 65 percent in the venture, while foreign investors own the remainder.