Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Zim in full KPCS compliance move: mines minister

Zim in full KPCS compliance move: mines minister
Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:46:00 +0000

THE Minister of Mines and Mining Development says Zimbabwe has done everything possible to ensure full compliance with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme principles.

Presenting a progress report on the country’s KP compliance in Swakopmund, Namibia, yesterday, Mpofu said the global diamond trade regulator had promised Zimbabwe technical support but nothing had materialised.

Despite this, he pointed out, Zimbabwe had gone ahead and beefed up its systems with the limited resources at the State’s disposal.

"We strongly believe that as a country, we have done all in complying with the requirements of the process," he said.

"With limited resources available to us, we certainly have made considerable progress in achieving full compliance in the KP requirements.

"The situation on the ground in the Marange diamond field is rapidly changing with the implementation of our workplan," Mpofu said.

He said Zimbabwe had made formal requests to South Africa and Namibia for capacity building assistance in order to achieve compliance with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme at the Marange diamond fields.

"On 21 August 2009, (Government) made a formal request to South Africa and Namibia to assist in capacity building in order to achieve full compliance.

"South Africa responded on 9 October 2009 by seconding an expert to work with Zimbabwe."

He said the Government had engaged two investors to work in partnership with the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation to exploit the Marange diamonds.

Labels: KIMBERLEY PROCESS, OBERT MPOFU

posted by MrK @ 12:17 AM