HARARE – The government has revealed a huge gold and diamond haul worth several millions of dollars, seized from over 2,500 people, signalling on-going illicit mining and trading of the valuable minerals which officials says has cost the country billions in revenue.
The government on Friday published a notice with a lengthy list showing almost 30 kilogrammes of gold (over 1 000 ounces) and about 32 000 carats of diamonds and other precious stones forfeited to the state for various reasons.
The mineral seizures were done in terms of the Gold Trade Act and the Precious Stones Act, both which allow the mines ministry to take custody of all gold and gems declared by any court to be forfeited to the state if deemed to be in the possession of unauthorized persons.
The gold haul, worth an estimated $1,3 million at current bullion prices, is about a quarter of the monthly production of Mwana Africa’s Freda Rebecca, currently the country’s most productive mine.
The 32 000 carat diamond and precious stones is roughly 10 percent of the total gems that went under the hammer at Zimbabwe’s last public auction held in Dubai which earned $30 million.
In the notice, the mines ministry invites persons with legal right to the minerals to claim them within two months of publication, with the government disposing of all unclaimed minerals after that period.
The Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe has said the country is losing an estimated $50 million monthly through mineral smuggling, while similar leakages have been reported in the diamond sector.
— The Source
