Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Govt bans all diamond exports

Govt bans all diamond exports
By: Ralph Mutema
Posted: Thursday, May 27, 2010 2:33 pm

ALL diamond exports from Zimbabwe have been banned until gemstones from Marange fields are certified by the Kimberly Process, state media said on Thursday. The country is yet to get a nod from international industry regulator Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) to sell diamonds from Marange.

"I have suspended all diamond exports from Zimbabwe with immediate effect until the issue of the KPCS has been sorted out," Obert Mpofu, the mines minister told the state-owned Herald newspaper.

He said this was in accordance with World Trade Organisation rules on non-discrimination in trade because the KPCS was yet to issue export clearance to other mining houses — Canadile Miners and Mbada Holdings.

Canadile and Mbada are the only two companies that have been awarded licences to exploit the resou-rce in Chiadzwa, but there has been a spirited campaign to bar them from exporting the diamonds.

"The issue is about Zimbabwe diamonds but there seems to be a belief among our detractors that in Zimbabwe there are some diamonds which are pure or more acceptable to them than others.

"We cannot continue as Government to facilitate that kind of misguided approach to our diamonds by our detractors," Minister Mpofu said.

He added: "As Government we view Zimbabwean diamonds as Zimbabwean diamonds regardless of where they are mined.

"We have a clear distinction where certain diamonds can be viewed as acceptable while others are not; can such a situation be allowed to continue?"

Rio Tinto, which owns Murowa, is an Australian company.

Australia is among countries pushing for Zimbabwe’s suspension from the KPCS on claims of human rights abuses.

The Kimberley Process regulates virtually all global trade in diamonds and countries without certification largely cannot sell the gems on the international market.

Meanwhile, KPCS monitor for Zimbabwe Mr Abbey Chikane yesterday met the Cabinet Taskforce on Diamond Certification to discuss progress made in complying with international standards at the Chiadzwa fields.

Labels: BLOOD DIAMONDS, DIAMONDS, KIMBERLEY PROCESS, OBERT MPOFU

posted by MrK @ 3:40 PM