WDC expresses its concerns over Zimbabwe diamond sector

Source: Tacy (Israel)

Date: 25 December 2006

Author: Anon

The World Diamond Council (WDC), led by Chairman Eli Izhakoff, has expressed its concerns to the incoming Chair of the Kimberley Process Karel Kovanda regarding the current situation in southern Africa amid reports that rough diamonds from Zimbabwe’s kimberlite River Ranch mine and alluvial diamonds from Marange, Zimbabwe, are possibly being smuggled illegally into South Africa for official export with the validation of a Kimberley Process Certificate. "While remaining mindful of Zimbabwe’s membership of the Kimberley Process, such illegal exportation presents a clear threat to the integrity of the legitimate export process as a whole. In addition, we have heard that River Ranch diamonds are being mixed with production from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We appeal to the Chair and participant nations of the Kimberley Process to act swiftly and in unison, to resolve this situation and protect the legitimate and law-abiding industry. We appeal to the governments of Zimbabwe, South Africa and the DRC to take necessary action to ensure that illicit diamonds cannot be exported under the Kimberley Process Certificate Scheme."

"In addition, we appeal to all rough diamond importing countries to carry out appropriate inspections of all parcels of rough diamonds emanating from southern Africa to ensure that they do not contain Zimbabwean or Congolese production," says Izhakoff. "I fully agree that the situation in Zimbabwe needs to be carefully monitored, and that Participants and Observers must take further action to ensure that the Kimberley Process is not negatively affected by these events," responds Kovanda. Kovanda points out that at the recent Kimberley Process Plenary meeting in Gaborone Zimbabwe recognized the difficulties it faces in relation to the ‘diamond rush’ and it has informed the Kimberley Process of measures, notably in terms of enforcement and police controls, that it has taken in a bid to regain control of the situation. The European Commission has committed to requesting an update from Zimbabwe on recent developments and actions there, and has requested that the WDC shares any further information on Zimbabwe and its effects on neighboring countries as well as action by the industry for the benefit of participants of the Kimberley Process.