By Business Reporter – Monday 27 January 2020
HARARE (Mining Index) – CHINESE firm, Anjin Investments has reportedly extended its operations to part of the concession belonging to government-owned, Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) at Chiadzwa diamond fields in Marange, Mining Index has established.
Following a three year hiatus, Anjin resumed operations in Marange on the 1st March 2019, following government’s closure of seven mining companies in 2016 and the subsequent merger of the concessions and assets to form one giant entity, ZCDC.
On top of their existing concession, reports have emerged that the Chinese miner commenced diamond mining operations on a sizeable part of the ZCDC concession two weeks ago.
“The new development is that Anjin started mining operations two weeks ago on a portion owned by ZCDC,” said a source who requested anonymity.
Anjin is one of the four companies permitted to undertake diamond exploration and mining in Marange, through the Zimbabwe National Diamond Policy (ZNDP) approved by Cabinet on the 4th December 2018.
When contacted for comment, ZCDC Public Relations Manager Sugar Chagonda could neither confirm nor deny the reports.
Acting ZCDC chief executive officer Roberto de Pretto had also not responded to questions sent to him.
However, a media and consultancy company for ZCDC, MEJRKH, last week requested for a meeting with Mining Index, but have also failed to provide responses on questions asked during and after the meeting.
“Mr Chagonda is still working on the answers to your questions so he has asked for more time. It will be worth the wait,” said MEJRKH media monitoring and liason officer Paidamoyo Makoni.
Anjin, alongside Mbada Diamonds, Marange Resources, Diamond Mining Company, Kusena, Gye Nyame and DTZ Ozgeo, were booted out of Chiadzwa diamond fields on allegations of prejudicing the State millions of dollars in diamond revenue, through understating earnings and not declaring dividends.
Anjin Investments is a joint venture between Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Group (AFFEC) and Matt Bronze, a subsidiary of the Zimbabwe Defence Industries (ZDI), which is wholly owned by the Zimbabwe National Army. ENDS// www.miningindex.co.zw
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