This emerged from a leaked US diplomatic cable in which African Consolidated Resources chief executive Andrew Cranswick and the company’s consultant Greg Sebborn told a group of Western donors in January 2010 that about 15 percent of diamonds produced by Mbada Mining are stolen and presumably sold in Mozambique.
Although they did not have production figures for Canadile, they also presumed that most Canadile diamonds were sold illegally in Mozambique or elsewhere.
They noted that the Ndau ethnic group, related to the Manyika, are predominant in the Marange area as well as on the Mozambican side of the border which is a RENAMO stronghold.
“They told the Fishmongers that large stores of weapons remain in the area and speculated that diamonds could be traded for arms,” the cable said.
The Fishmongers Group is an informal grouping of Western donor nations and financial institutions that helps to coordinate existing aid efforts in Zimbabwe and is also focused on preparations for reconstruction.
The operations of Mbada and Canadile, both linked to Zanu (PF), have been shadowy, with only party officials and army officers allowed to visit the mines while Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and other MDC-T members have been barred.
According to ACR, the Mbada joint venture alone could produce gem quality and industrial diamonds worth over $1.6 billion a year.
The allegations of the arms dealings could pose a serious security threat, given that unregistered guns would be readily available that could be used to suppress President Robert Mugabe’s opponents ahead of polls tentatively set for 2012.
Zanu (PF) is currently subject to an international arms embargo that has seen Mugabe failing to get weapons on the open market.
Post published in: News