Jewelers of America, a coalition of more than 10 000 jewelery retailers in the US, revealed last month that Zimbabwe was
clandestinely shipping rough stones from Marange to the UAE in violation of an agreement reached with the Kimberley Process. The group said there have been multiple shipments of rough diamonds moved from Zimbabwe to the UAE during the period December 2009 through April 2010.
Stephane Chardon, chair of the Brussels-based KP Working Group on Monitoring (WGM) said last week that the illegally exported diamonds were being held by the authorities in Abu Dhabi pending clarification by Harare over the illegal export. The shipments mentioned in your letter, that appear to be in contravention to the Swakopmund Decision and the Joint Work Plan, are currently detained by the UAE authorities and a full clarification has been requested from Zimbabwe through official channels, Chardon said
in a letter to Jewelers of America chief executive Matthew Runci dated May 30.
Jewelers of America last month wrote to Chardon seeking the cessation of the shipments until there is renewed assurance from the Zimbabwean authorities that the country now meets KP standards. Zimbabwe cannot sell the Marange diamonds until KP monitor Abbey Chikane, who has already visited the diamond field in the countrys eastern districts to inspect the mining operations of firms operating in the area, certifies them for release on the international diamond market.
The country escaped a KP ban last year but was given until this month to regularise mining operations in Marange and comply with the international diamond watchdogs requirements. Chardon said all countries participating in the KP have been urged to
ensure vigilance and have been provided with the necessary guidance to detect and intercept possible illicit shipments of Marange diamonds.
The representatives of industry (World Diamond Council) in the Kimberley Process committed to join force with governments and are also considering actions from the private sector with a view to strengthening the KP response, he added. He said KP monitor Abbey Chikane, who was in Zimbabwe last month, reported some progress in implementation of the Swakopmund Decision
and Joint Work Plan but noted remaining indications of non-compliance KP Certification Scheme requirements.
Marange is one of the worlds most controversial diamond fields with human rights groups accusing soldiers sent by the government to secure the field from illegal miners of gross human rights abuses. The KP monitors the diamond trade worldwide in order to prevent the sale of conflict diamonds to sponsor rogue regimes or rebel armies.
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