HARARE Talks to break an international deadlock over Zimbabwes suspended diamond exports ended in Belgium last week without a deal as the market was awash with rumours that Harare was courting buyers for stones from its controversial fields to the east of the country.
Industry representatives failed to hammer a compromise deal after a special meeting of the Kimberley Process (KP)s Working Group on Monitoring (WGM) ended in Brussels on Thursday with no consensus on whether to allow rough diamond exports from Zimbabwe.
The Brussels meeting followed a KP plenary session held earlier this month in Israel which nearly reached an agreement after direct consultations between the United States and Zimbabwe. The agreement was widely accepted by KP members but was blocked by Canada and Australia. The Tel Aviv meetings ended with a decision to continue negotiations until a unanimous agreement is reached.
Zimbabwe boycotted the WGM meeting although it was said to be liaising with the working group via a delegation from neighbouring countries. Harare has insisted that it would resume selling the gems without any conditions. Under a set of measures meant to bring Zimbabwes controversial diamond industry in line with KP standards, the world diamond industry
must monitor production and sales of diamonds from Chiadzwa field where the army has been accused of rights abuses against civilians.
International rights groups have been pushing for a world ban on Zimbabwe diamonds until Harare acts to ensure mining at Chiadzwa is in full compliance with KP standards. Meanwhile, media reports said rough diamonds mined by Mbada and
Canadile two joint venture companies partnering the government in mining the Chiadzwa gems are being offered to diamond buyers.
Diamond industry publication IDEX Online noted that while the export status of the diamonds was unclear, Zimbabwe was reportedly seeking bids for the goods. Its not clear if the goods are among those that were KP certified earlier this month by the KP monitor, Abbey Chikane, the publication said. Chikane sneaked into Harare this month and authorised the sale of
Chiadzwa diamonds without the consent of other KP members.
Post published in: News