Mines and mining development minister Walter Chidhakwa says the country is this week going to hold the last diamond auction for the evicted Chiadzwa diamond mining companies.
Chidhakwa told the state media on Monday that on the auction day which is yet to be announced, the new Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Mining Company is (ZCDMC) expected to put 160 000 carats under the hammer.
Government last month ordered all diamond companies to vacate their various concessions and cease operations after seven months of unfruitful firm consolidation talks between government and the miners.
Government also said the country lost over $15 billion to diamond mining companies since their discovery in Manicaland province in 2008.
Chidakwa accused the mining companies of operating illegally adding that they were to merger with government and “in fact operating illegally as the granted permits had expired and were not renewed over the last four to five years”.