The government of Zimbabwe has commissioned an airborne mineral exploration in an 8,800 sq km areas across two districts Chiredzi and Mwenezi, which could possibly have large diamond deposits, according to reports in the local media.

The reports state that the Mwenezi Aeromagnetic Survey for Diamonds project that has been commissioned by Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, Winston Chitando, will be carried out by a local company Aerosurv in partnership with a South African company, Xcalibur Airborne Geophysics.

The survey will focus on conglomerate, alluvial and Kimberlitic diamond deposits, the media reported.

Subsequently, Aerosurv will also cover the Limpopo Mobile Zone (Ngundu) area to conduct a high resolution, low level airborne survey of the surrounding areas including River Ranch, Murowa and Mwenezi.

The minister reportedly said that this is part of the government’s Vision 2030, which aims to boost diamond production from the current level of 2.8 million carats to at least 12 million carats by that year.

The ministry has already set a target of about 10 million carats by 2023.

According to the reports, the decision has been welcomed locally. The Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs, Ezra Chadzamira was quoted as saying that the project could play a key role in transforming the district.