Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) Zimbabwe on verge of Marange KPCS breakthrough

Zimbabwe on verge of Marange KPCS breakthrough
31/10/2011 00:00:00
by Brezhnev Malaba I Kinshasa

ZIMBABWE was last night on the verge of a major breakthrough in the quest to export Anjin's diamond stockpile of more than two million carats, as high-stakes negotiations under the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme gathered pace. The DRC, current chair of the Kimberley Process, is hosting a plenary session which began on Monday.

When behind-the-scenes manoeuvring got off to a frenetic start at the Grand Hotel, a stone's throw from the mighty Congo River, the discussions over Zimbabwe's diamond question took on a political complexion, with serious lobbying and horse-trading between Western countries on one side and African nations on the other.

The United States, Canada, Australia, the European Union and their allies in the 76-member KP grouping have relentlessly frustrated Zimbabwe's efforts to sell the Marange diamonds on the international market, citing so-called human rights abuses and alleged non-compliance with KP certification requirements. But African nations have shown commendable tenacity at the Kinshasa plenary by caucusing behind the scenes in a push to tame the powerful countries.

The US wants to succeed the DRC as chair of the influential KP next year.

The African Diamond Producers' Association has, however, set a strong condition for the Americans: Africa will only back Washington's candidature on condition that Zimbabwe is finally given the go-ahead to sell its Marange diamonds without further obstruction.

Emerging from the ADPA caucus last night, Attorney-General Johannes Tomana, confirmed that Zimbabwe was "on the verge of a breakthrough".

Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu, said he remained "hopeful" that justice would prevail.

Diplomatic sources here said the EU brewed a shocker by averting full-scale confrontation between the US and the African diamond producers.

The EU delegation, sensing tension between the African states and the Americans, moved in swiftly to help draft a proposal that will see Zimbabwe gain certification to sell its Marange diamonds, while also ensuring that the US succeeds in clinching the KP chair in 2012.

"These discussions are not easy. Every party wants to preserve its interests. But a compromise is inevitable in the circumstances. The dictates of real politics will shape KP discussions from this moment onwards," said an African diplomat on the sidelines of the plenary.

The African diamond producers within the KP grouping have openly told the US that Africa will only back Washington's bid for the KP chair on condition that the Zimbabwe diamond question is resolved once and for all.

South Africa's Minister of Mines Susan Shabangu, explained to the ADPA caucus why her country backs the US bid for the KP chair.

"The US will chair the KP in 2012, while South Africa becomes deputy chair. South Africa will then take the chair in 2013, the year marking the 10th anniversary of the formation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme," said Minister Shabangu.

The Namibian and Angolan representatives to the African caucus said Africa must be sophisticated enough to tell the US that if Washington wants to rise to the KP chair, the Kinshasa plenary must first unlock the Zimbabwe diamond logjam.

"As long as we use this opportunity to resolve the Zimbabwe issue once and for all, we have no problem backing the US position for now," the Namibian delegation said.

The Ghana delegation said African diamond producers' solidarity with Zimbabwe would teach the world that the continent could never be taken for granted again.

Minister Mpofu thanked the African nations for standing by Zimbabwe.

"We are grateful for the support from our African colleagues. If I had my way, I would propose that South Africa become chair and the US becomes vice chair, so that we first see how they (the US) behave. But if our issue is resolved, we won't stand in their way, but if our issue is not resolved, we will stand in their way," Minister Mpofu told the African caucus, with a veiled warning that

Zimbabwe had the power to easily scuttle the US quest for the KP chair by simply objecting to the proposal when the matter comes up for discussion in plenary.

Should the new proposals on Zimbabwe's diamonds be fully adopted, the KP will dispatch a monitoring team comprising Abbey Chikane and Mark van Bockstael to visit Anjin to discharge their mandate within 14 days after the Kinshasa plenary. Bockstael, a tough backroom operator who has previously criticised Zimbabwe, also chairs the KP's working group on diamond experts. - Herald

Labels: DIAMONDS, KIMBERLEY PROCESS, MARANGE DIAMOND FIELDS

posted by MrK @ 6:35 AM