Zimbabwe Seeks to Add Value to Diamonds Locally

The government of Zimbabwe is committed to creating incentives for citizens of the country to open new businesses that would carry out other operations related to the diamond industry, in addition to simply mining the gems, Mining Weekly reported cited by Israelidiamond.co.il.
Zimbabwe Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu announced in a speech read on his behalf that he hopes to see local industries engage in platinum and chrome refining and diamond cutting and polishing. Mpofu said that he also wished to see smelting plants constructed on Zimbabwean soil, but confessed that he did not anticipate that it would occur anytime soon, due to the high costs involved in setting up such an operation.
The Chamber of Mines, the body that represents the mainly foreign-owned mining operations, responded to Mpofu's announcement in an encouraging manner, saying that the group would not oppose these proposals, but urged the government to confer with its members in order to implement beneficiation schemes in practice.