When was diamond discovered in Zimbabwe?
2001
In 2001 diamonds were first discovered in the Marange area in Eastern Zimbabwe. Since then these diamond field has been beset by conflict, bloodshed, forced labor and government crackdowns. According to one industry expert the Marange diamond area is the richest diamond field ever seen.
What happens at the Marange diamond fields?
Thousands of villagers around east Zimbabwe’s Marange diamond fields took to the streets on Monday to protest the looting of diamond revenue and were met by armed soldiers and police who fired tear gas canisters to disperse the demonstrators, according to witnesses interviewed by Human Rights Watch.
Where are diamonds found in Zimbabwe?
Marange diamond fields
The Marange diamond fields are an area of widespread small-scale diamond production in Chiadzwa, Mutare District, Zimbabwe. ‘Although estimates of the reserves contained in this area vary wildly, some have suggested that it could be home to one of the world’s richest diamond deposits’.
Are there diamonds in Zimbabwe?
The Marange mining region in the east of Zimbabwe is estimated to have one of the world’s richest diamond reserves and is a vital revenue earner for a country in a dire economic straits.
Where is Marange in Zimbabwe?
Marange area is located in the mountainous border town of Mutare under Manicaland province in Zimbabwe. Marange is traditionally administered by the Marange chieftaincy. It is located about 100 km south-west of Mutare city. The area is predominantly home to the Manyika speaking Marange people.
Who were the Rand Lords?
Randlords were the capitalists who controlled the diamond and gold mining industries in South Africa in its pioneer phase from the 1870s up to World War I. A small number of European financiers, largely of the same generation, gained control of the diamond mining industry at Kimberley, Northern Cape.
How much diamond is in Zimbabwe?
According to previous auctions, Zimbabwean diamonds normally fetch about US$400 per carat, although this can rise to as much as US$12 000 per carat.
Who are the owners of the diamonds in Marange?
Politics has dominated everything happening in Marange since the discovery of diamonds in 2006. Three of the four companies mining diamonds in Marange are joint ventures between some private companies and the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) whilst the fourth, Marange Resources, is wholly owned by the Zimbabwe government through ZMDC.
When did De Beers discover the Marange diamond deposit?
De Beers discovered the Marange fossil placer diamond deposit in 2003 during the tenure of their exploration licence (EPO 1523) covering the Marange area.
What are the names of the companies in Marange?
The seven companies then operating were: Marange Resources, Anjin Investments Ltd., Diamond Mining Company, Gyne Nyame Resources, Jinan Mining Ltd., Kusena Diamonds, and Mbada Diamonds.
When was the discovery of diamonds in Zimbabwe?
The discovery of significant alluvial diamond deposits in the Marange area of eastern Zimbabwe [Manicaland Province] in June 2006 should have been a means of salvation for the virtually bankrupt country after ten years of chaos that saw world record inflation and the nation brought to its knees.