Zimbabwe diamond miners plan to sue Govt.

[miningmx.com] – ZIMBABWE’S Diamond Mining Company (DMC) planned to sue the government for breach of contract after it banned gem mining in the east of the country, said Reuters citing a company official.

Zimbabwe’s mines minister on Monday ordered nine companies operating in the Marange fields to stop all mining activities and leave immediately because their licences had expired, said the newswire.

DMC general manager Ramzi Malik said that its joint venture contract stipulates that renewing licences was the responsibility of the government, through its state mining arm Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC).

He said the investment agreements were valid and indefinite and therefore Harare was in breach. Asked whether DMC would go to court if the government did not reconsider, Malik said: “I am sure we will.”

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