Zimbabwe To Send Diamonds To Botswana

Zimbabwe is set to send its diamonds to Botswana as Government is on the verge of clinching a deal with the country. The deal will see Zimbabwe’s diamonds being processed, cleaned and polished at the Diamond Trading Company (DTC) before they are placed on the market.

Speaking during a tour of DTC in Gaborone, Botswana yesterday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said talks were at an advanced stage for the two countries to seal the agreement. Said Mnangagwa:

In Zimbabwe, yes we have diamonds, but we do not really have a diamond policy. We are now crafting the policy, discussing with Botswana, Namibia and Angola to assist us in formulating a diamond policy for Zimbabwe. But currently, there is discussion between my Minister of Mines and the young man here (Botswana’s Minister of Mines) so that we bring our diamonds from Zimbabwe to be processed here.

In an interview with The Herald yesterday, Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando said the agreement would be signed soon with the first shipment of diamonds expected to be processed in Botswana within the next three months. He said the Attorney Generals of both countries are looking at the legal processes.

More: Herald