Zimbabwe Finance Minister: Additional Budget Revenues to Come from Marange
December 06, 09 by Edon Ophir
Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister Tendai Biti said he hopes the Marange diamond field will generate additional revenue for his country, according to a report published Wednesday by the Voice of America.
In his budget presentation before Zimbabwe’s parliament, Biti said the revenues would be based upon royalties extracted from two South African companies that have been granted concessions to operate in the area.
The eastern-Zimbabwe diamond field has been the subject of much scrutiny as allegations of government-sanctioned mining and smuggling in the region have increased in recent years. In July, a Kimberley Process (KP) review mission cited such allegations, in addition to widespread human rights abuses committed by the Zimbabwe military, who are there under the premise of protecting of the field from illegal mining.
In his budget address, Biti stated he will form a commission made up members of the Finance, Home Affairs and Mines ministries, in order “to oversee exploitation of the field and the export of diamonds to prevent their theft or diversion,” the VOA reported.
