Vast Resources plc, a UK-based mining firm operating in Zimbabwe, has uncovered more than 6,000 additional carats of gem-quality diamonds in its long-contested Historic Parcel.
By Ryan Chigoche
The consignment is believed to have originated from the Chiadzwa diamond fields in Marange, Manicaland Province.
The discovery adds significant value to the parcel, which has been at the centre of a prolonged ownership and export dispute.
The new find brings the total weight of the parcel to approximately 135,139 carats, of which 36,475 carats have now been confirmed as gem quality significantly increasing the potential commercial value of the consignment.
The announcement follows a detailed sorting process in Dubai, where the diamonds are currently undergoing cleaning and grading ahead of a phased sale.
The diamonds were cleared for export earlier this year following verification under the Kimberley Process, an international certification scheme designed to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the global market.
The parcel had been sealed since 2010 and stored in the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe vaults, pending resolution of a protracted ownership and export dispute involving Vast, its local partners, and the Zimbabwean government.
Confirming the development Vast I’m a statement said , “The Company is pleased to report that the sorting process has revealed an additional quantity of stones in the sealed historic parcels, the existence of which was previously unknown to the board of directors of Vast.”
The release of the parcel marks a significant breakthrough for Vast, which has long claimed a rightful stake through its joint venture arrangements in Zimbabwe.
The company operates locally through Katanga Mining (Pvt) Ltd, a joint venture formed in 2019 between Vast and Chiadzwa Mineral Resources (Pvt) Ltd (CMR)—a company designated to represent the interests of the Chiadzwa community.
A further joint venture between Katanga and the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) a government-owned entity representing the state in diamond mining is expected to be officially signed, strengthening the tripartite partnership aimed at reviving operations in the Marange region.
The Chiadzwa fields are globally recognised as among the richest alluvial diamond deposits, but commercial activity in the area has faced legal, political, and regulatory hurdles for over a decade.
Vast has indicated that the diamond sale will be conducted in phases, with initial cleaned stones expected to be ready in the coming weeks. The phased approach is intended to maximise returns amid ongoing improvements in global diamond market sentiment.
The latest development comes as Zimbabwe targets US\$12 billion in annual mining revenues by 2030, with diamond mining expected to play a key role in meeting that target. For Vast, the renewed momentum in Marange signals a potential turning point after years of uncertainty.
