Chiadzwa — The visiting Antwerp World Diamond Centre delegation yesterday toured Chiadzwa diamond fields and applauded Mbada Diamonds and Marange Resources (formerly Canadile Miners) for operating professionally.
Led by AWDC chief executive officer Mr Freddy Hanard, the delegation spent the whole day touring the two companies' operations.
In an interview with The Herald, Mr Hanard said: "The investment made in equipment by the two companies is of a very high level.
"The security is professionally organised. It is of a high level as well."
Mr Hannard noted that the Chiadzwa diamond fields had the potential to change the face of the global industry if properly exploited.
"We have seen two professional organisations. While we did not enter the Anjin Investment premises, the investment made there is huge."
He said the purpose of his delegation's visit was to exchange views with local diamond industry stakeholders.
"We have had gatherings with bankers, insurers and shipping companies and exchanged views so that we understand much better the challenges we have in front of us and how we can tackle them. For us, compliance is the key word," Mr Hanard said.
He said Zimbabwe's main challenge now was how to manage the flow of diamonds on the market. "Zimbabwe has to ensure that we do not have excess supply of diamonds on the market, which would damage prices and income for the country as well," Mr Hanard explained.
His delegation comprises the world's largest banks involved in the diamond industry - ABN and ADB.
The Belgian delegation, which met Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu and other senior Government officials on Tuesday, leaves the country today.
Belgium is a member of the European Union that has imposed illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe, but its citizens have defied these and openly expressed interest in investing in the country.
