Published: 11 November 2013

A new gem miner, Rera Diamonds said on Saturday it is set to commence exploration in Chimanimani, Manicaland province.

Government has in the last few years licensed over six companies including Mbada Diamonds, Anjin and Marange Resources to mine the precious mineral in Manicaland province.

Rera Diamonds said it was yet to start operations in the area pending the finalisation and approval of an environmental impact assessment.

The Environmental Management Act requires that impact assessments be conducted to make known the effect that a project will have on the environment before commencement of activities such as mining.

"Alstopia Mining Limited trading as Rera Diamonds is a diamond mining company that is involved in the extraction, processing and sorting of diamonds."

"The company intends to explore for diamonds in the Chimanimani district of Manicaland province," the miner said in a statement.

Rera said it had engaged the services of the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (Sirdc) to conduct the environmental impact study for the project.

Sirdc is a specialised Government institution with various departments such as the Metallurgical Research Institute which is involved in mining related activities.

The ownership structure of Rera Diamonds could not immediately be established.

But Government has made it mandatory that it owns at least 51 percent of all diamond mining operations in the country.

The diamond sector is expected to play a pivotal role in Zimbabwe's economic revival efforts.

- New Ziana

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