The Zimbabwe government has lifted the ban on chrome ore and chrome fines exports, the Minerals Marketing Corpo-ration of Zimbabwe has said.

The move is intended to plug leakages, encourage value addition and to help miners re-equip through chrome pledges.

The lifting of the ban, it is expected, will run for one-and-a-half years before a further review.

Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu, speaking on the sidelines of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Summit in June this year, said the ban was effected as a loss control measure and to encourage value addition to the mineral.