The Zimbabwe government has ordered seven diamond companies in the Marange area of eastern Zimbabwe to immediately stop all mining activities, a month after complaining about their opaque operations.
Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa said the firms were operating illegally after the expiry of their joint-venture permits with the state.
It has since come to our attention that the joint venture companies have been operating illegally, as the permits which had been granted expired and were not renewed over the last four to five years, Chidhakwa announced in Harare on Monday.
He added: This pertains to all the companies in the Marange area. In terms of conditions 6 and 8 of the special grant, the Secretary (of M…
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