Tsholotsho diamonds could help community

The Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Dr Obert Mpofu has said the recent discovery of mineral deposits in Tsholotsho in Matabeleland North will benefit the area and the country as a whole.

Gold and diamonds were discovered in Dogwe.

Dr Mpofu said the Government was encouraged by the discovery of the precious minerals whose extraction can bring prosperity not only to the area but also to the whole of Zimbabwe.

"I am aware that there is a company called Canister Resources that has been operating in the area.

"They are looking for a number of minerals that include gold and diamonds. The initial finding has been gold.

"The company has confirmed that there are substantial amounts of gold in the area," he said.

Dr Mpofu said the company was not only prospecting for minerals in Tsholotsho alone but in Plumtree as well.

"The discovery of these minerals is set to create employment opportunities," he said.

Dr Mpofu said the expected setting up of a mine in the area would also empower locals.

Councillor for Tsholotsho South constituency's Ward 19 Alois Ndebele welcomed the discovery saying the development would be of benefit to the people of Tsholotsho.

He said the establishment of a mine in the area would create employment for locals as well as bring development to the area.

The discovery of minerals in Tsholotsho, particularly diamonds comes a few months after the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) approved Zimbabwe's diamonds exports, which could significantly improve the country's economic prospects this year and beyond.

However, the US, which currently holds the chair of the Kimberley Process, could sabotage the development because it was one of the countries, together with Canada and other allies that were against the certification claiming that Zimbabwe's diamonds were blood diamonds.

The KPCS is a process designed to certify the origin of rough diamonds from sources that are free of conflict. The process was established in 2003 to prevent diamond sales from financing rebellious movements. The certification scheme aims at preventing "blood diamonds" from entering the mainstream rough diamond market.

It was set up to assure consumers that by purchasing diamonds they were not financing war and human rights abuses.