By Fanuel Chinowaita
Mutare, Chiyadzwa, 5 July 2025 – The Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) has been forced to retrench employees following a devastating collapse in global diamond prices, leaving workers in shock and the future of the industry uncertain.
In a tense meeting held earlier this week, ZCDC management informed employees that some would be laid off immediately. A message circulated among staff read:
“Good day to you all. Today’s meeting was about the NOTIFICATION of employees identified for involuntary retrenchment. The affected workers will receive letters today and must leave the premises by tomorrow due to the nature of our core business and to avoid potential incidents.”
The notice added that while the employees would remain on the payroll until their severance packages were finalized, they were barred from returning to work. Negotiations over compensation are expected in the coming days.
ZCDC Official confirmed the drastic measures, explaining that the company was battling a severe downturn in diamond prices.
“The entire diamond market has crashed,” the Official said. “Faced with this crisis, we had two options: shut down completely or reduce operations while waiting for prices to recover. We chose the latter to keep the company alive.”
The Official emphasized that ZCDC first offered voluntary retrenchment before resorting to compulsory layoffs. “We followed all legal procedures and hope to rehire our people if the market improves,” she added.
Efforts to get a comment from Ministry of Mines were fruitless.
Meanwhile, the sudden retrenchments have left many employees anxious. Some, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were given no prior warning.
“One day we’re working, the next we’re told to go home. How will we survive?” asked one affected worker. Others expressed frustration over the lack of clarity on their severance packages.
Zimbabwe’s diamond sector, once a key foreign currency earner, has been hit hard by falling gem prices, smuggling, and operational challenges. The latest crisis raises concerns about the country’s ability to sustain its mining-dependent economy.
Economists warn that if diamond prices do not recover soon, more job losses could follow, further straining an already struggling workforce.
With negotiations over retrenchment packages underway, all eyes are on whether ZCDC can stabilize its operations and whether the global diamond market will rebound in time to save Zimbabwe’s beleaguered industry.
For now, hundreds of workers face an uncertain future, hoping for a miracle that will bring back the sparkle to Zimbabwe’s diamonds and their livelihoods.