Police are investigating an intrusion into the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC). It took place on 19 January Minister of Mines and Mining Development according to Winston Chitando.
The Minister said the unidentified people who entered into the Portal A Mining area of ZCDC took some tailings from dumps, which are the residue of ore, with no value attached.
“This was an isolated incident which is being investigated by the police and which should not be viewed as a threat to diamond operations in Chiadzwa,” Chitando said.
“Until investigations by the police are concluded there is no basis to speculate on the identity of the intruders and any speculation on such identity is pre-mature.”
The Minister, however, said the security in the ZCDC diamond fields is of the highest standards. He fully meets Kimberly Process Certification Systems requirements which are continuously reviewed regularly to prevent any breaches.
“It is precisely because of this that the intruders could not get to the area which contains valuable ores and processed material,” Chitando said.
The surveillance measures alerted the presence of intruders which enabled the security to react accordingly.
ZCDC took over the Marange diamond fields in 2016 from private mining companies whose licenses were not renewed after former President Robert Mugabe announced the disappearance of US$15 billion diamond revenue.
ZCDC guards have been accused of looting diamonds from the Marange mining operation according to local media.
Local press reported of Zimbabwe’s security personnel also looting the gems worth millions of dollars.