October 2011 Vol 37, Mining and Industry Indaba
Zimbabwe gets green light for Marange diamond exports
JOHANNESBURG – Zimbabwe has been given the green light to start rough diamond exports from all operations in the controversial Marange region, according to an agreement reached on Monday at the 8th Kimberley Process (KP) Plenary in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The agreement pointed out that the export of rough diamonds was subject to the KP monitoring teams verification of compliance.
There are currently two operations in Marange that are KP-compliant – Mbada Diamonds and Canadile Miners - two companies in joint ventures with the State's Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation.
The monitoring team, including South Africa’s Abbey Chikane and World Diamond Council Technical Committee chairperson Mark Van Bockstael, will head for Zimbabwe shortly to examine whether a third mining operation in the area, Anjin, is KP-compliant and permitted to export diamonds.
The team will pay a similar visit to any other new mine within 14 days of receiving an invitation.
“Transparency of operation is a key element of the agreement, with compliant mining operations in the Marange region being required to share mine level data with the monitoring on an ongoing basis,” World Diamond Council president Eli Izhakoff said.
As part of the agreement, the KP Civil Society Coalition representatives in Zimbabwe will have access to the Marange area so as to allow continued reporting on KP Certification Scheme (KPCS) implementation.
For its part, Zimbabwe has committed to uphold the KPCS minimum requirements and will report to the current KP Plenary and the KP Intersessional Meeting next year on issues related to identification of further investors, the regulation of artisanal mining, the fight against illicit digging and smuggling.
The new agreement will remain under constant review and will remain in force until the KP plenary meeting in 2012.
"This is a real milestone, and demonstrates categorically that the KP provides the framework through which the integrity of the rough diamond chain of distribution can be protected, while at the same time enabling producing countries to gain benefit from their natural resources," Izhakoff said.
He also thanked South Africa’s Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu, other African countries, the European Union and Zimbabwe’s Minister Obert Mpofu for their assistance in reaching the agreement.
