In its mandate to promote mining development, the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) has identified the struggling local diamond sector as one of the areas most critically in need of beneficiation investment, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Ryan Chigoche
Despite Zimbabwe’s rich diamond resources, the industry continues to underperform in terms of value addition. The government, a key player in the sector, has struggled to build resilient value chains or invest meaningfully in local cutting and polishing capacity.
Currently, about 90% of Zimbabwe’s diamonds are exported in rough form, meaning the country captures only about 20% of their potential value. This leaves the industry highly exposed to global price fluctuations and market volatility.
Adding to the challenge are escalating production costs, worsened by unreliable utilities and a steep royalty rate of 10%, which weigh heavily on the sector’s overall performance.
Against this backdrop, speaking during a panel discussion at the Africa Down Under conference, MMCZ General Manager Dr. Nomusa Moyo said unlocking value from the country’s diamond industry remains a priority.
“Right now, our diamond industry does not yet have fully equipped value addition facilities. We are highlighting these opportunities to encourage investors to participate in programs that process minerals locally, and we will also share ideas gathered from such international engagements with our parent ministry on how best to advance value addition and beneficiation,” Moyo said.
Moyo added that MMCZ will continue playing a key role in marketing Zimbabwe as a destination for mineral beneficiation and value addition opportunities, with a focus on diamonds and other strategic minerals.
Also stifling development in the local diamond sector is that the industry itself is dominated by three major mining operations: the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC), Anjin Investments, and Murowa Diamond. These companies have often found themselves embroiled in disputes that reflect the wider challenges of an industry long plagued by opacity and inequity.
ZCDC is wholly owned by the Government of Zimbabwe through Defold Mine (Pvt) Ltd, which holds 100% of its shares. Anjin Investments is a joint venture between Chinese construction giant Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Group (AFECC) and the Zimbabwean military’s investment arm, Matt Bronze. Both companies operate in Chiadzwa’s diamond fields in Manicaland province.
Murowa Diamond Mine is owned and operated by RZM Murowa (Private) Limited, part of RioZim Limited, a listed mining company. It operates in Mazvihwa, Midlands province, and is the country’s only significant private-sector diamond producer.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s participation at Africa Down Under (ADU) 2025 represents a whole-of-government approach to promoting mining and energy opportunities at a time when global demand for both sectors is accelerating.
