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temporary suspension of operations by Sino-Zimbabwe at the Chiadzwa diamonds fields.
Sino-Zimbabwe laid off most of its workers amid concerns that its mining claims in the diamond area may not hold enough alluvial diamonds to operate a viable mine.
ZMDC chairman, Mr Godwills Masimirembwa, at the weekend, said the parastatal was never informed on the development.
Sino-Zimbabwe is a joint venture between China and the Government of Zimbabwe through the ZMDC.
“We were not formally advised as the ZMDC and we do not have full details. We are sending a team to carry out a review at Sino-Zimbabwe,” Mr Masimirembwa said.
“As far as we are concerned, they (Sino-Zimbabwe) are still on the ground.”
Mr Masimirembwa said diamond production at Chiadzwa had not gone down but the problem was that companies mining the gems were unable to sell them on the international market freely.
“The diamond resource is significant and claims to the contrary are totally untrue. What we, as ZMDC and the Government of Zimbabwe, are crying for is permission to sell our diamonds. If companies are not allowed to sell diamonds, it affects production and at the moment companies are finding it difficult because of the US policy on us. That is the real issue,” Mr Masimirembwa said.
The US is leading a campaign to stop Zimbabwe from selling its diamonds on the international market citing unfounded human rights abuses.
This is despite the fact that the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme recently gave the country the green light to trade in its gems.
Sino-Zimbabwe, alongside Mbada Diamonds, Marange Resources, Pure Diamonds and Anjin are the five companies licensed to mine diamonds at the Chiadzwa diamonds fields.