Harare — Over 10 000 people from all over the world are visiting the eastern border town of Mutare every month for illegal activities involving diamonds, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono said Wednesday.

Gono told a conference of exporters that there were over 2 000 syndicates in the town that were smuggling diamonds out of the country.

"The syndicates are depriving the country of billions in foreign currency," he said.

"Zimbabwe is too rich to be poor," he said.

Gono said the country had a lot of diamonds, platinum and other minerals to exploit.

He said illegal activities such as the smuggling of diamonds and gold were affecting national development.

"There are over 2 000 syndicates smuggling diamond out of the country and the town has slowly become more common with foreigners than locals.

Gono urged the Government and all relevant stakeholders to curb the illegal activities to ensure the country benefited from its natural resources. -- New Ziana.