Harare — ZIMBABWE Mining Development Corporation's partners in the exploitation of diamonds in Chiadzwa have invested about US$50 million in plant and machinery over the past two months.

The partners, Grandwell and Core Mining Minerals both from South Africa are extracting the rough diamonds on an area 1 005 hectares in extent under ZMDC's special grants.

Grandwell partnered ZMDC to form Mbada Mining while on the other hand the State mining entity joined forces with Core Mining to form Canadile Miners to mine Chiadzwa diamonds

Chairperson of Grandwell Mr Dave Kassel, who is also the director in Mbada, told the Herald Business that they invested about US$50 million in two exploration plants and equipment.

The funds were also used to set up state-of-the-art security systems such as cameras with night vision.

One of the exploration plants is already operational.

It has the capacity to process 30 000 cubic metres of ore per month while the second plant has capacity for 150 000 cubic metres of ore. Mr Kassel said the second plant is expected to start operating before the end of this month.

"The commissioning of the second plant will give us an indication of the kind of output that we can expect once full production begins," he said.

One of the major features the plant has is its automatic ability to process and sort diamonds into boxes.

Rough diamonds sealed in boxes would in future be transported to Harare International Airport where a specially designed secure sorting facility to be manned by experts is being established to handle the sorting of the diamonds.

Mr Kasell said they had secured a plane to ferry the diamonds from the mine and were currently constructing an airstrip for the plane at the mining site.

The company recently completed the construction of a 15,4 kilometre water pipeline from Odzi River to the mining site to provide water for cleaning and processing of diamond ore.

"We plan to spend an additional US$50 million on another concession but that will depend on how well we do on this one," he said.

The mining venture has so far created about 340 jobs, mainly for people from the nearby communities.

Deputy Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara who was the head of the inter-ministerial delegation hailed miners saying any diamond mining activity should result in benefits accruing to the country and the local people.

The DPM also underscored the need for the mining activities to be done efficiently and effectively.

"What we have seen, the plant and machinery is in keeping with globally accepted best practices.

"Our preliminary statement is that we are on our way to the promised land. We are on our way to effectively mining diamonds for the beneficiation of our people," said DPM Mutambara.

Mines and Mining Development Minister, Obert Mpofu, Defence Minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister, Savious Kasukuwere, Economic planning and Investment Promotion, Elton Mangoma, State Enterprises and Parastatals Minister, Joel Gabbuza Gabuza was in Chiadzwa on Wednesday as part of their mandate from Cabinet to understand the mining operations at the diamonds.