The Sunday Mail
Livingstone Marufu
KIMBERLY Process Certification Scheme chair Mr Ahmed Bin Sulayem is expected to visit Zimbabwe to get an appreciation of diamond mining in Chiadzwa following Government’s consolidation of operations there.
Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa said Zimbabwe was excited about Mr Sulayem’s visit.
Mr Sulayem recently expressed his desire to visit Chiadzwa to get first-hand information about the goings-on in the diamond fields.
Government formed the Zimbabwe Consolidation Diamond Company this year after evicting companies which were mining the gems for close to a decade because of poor returns to Treasury.
“We are confident on the consolidation process and we are also happy that KP is supporting us. Zimbabwe has complied with the KPCS on reporting procedures as well as monitoring and evaluation processes.
“The fact that we have changed the structure of ownership of our diamond sector does not itself comprise our ability to comply with the requirements of the Kimberly Process,” said Mr Minister Chidhakwa.
He commended Mr Sulayem for standing firm in promoting dialogue and transparency.
The minister added that Zimbabwe was not impressed by Partnership Africa Canada which boycotted the recent KPCS meeting in the United Arab Emirates. PAC and other civil society organisations have long been speaking ill of Zimbabwe’s diamonds.
The eviction of diamond companies from Chiadzwa received KP backing.
Mr Sulayem said, “As chairman of (the) Kimberly Process it is of paramount importance to visit Zimbabwe and ensure we support dialogue. We have the responsibility to the entire diamond supply chain, more so as Kimberly Process we are a family. We have an incredible gathering of diamond talent in Africa.”
The ZCDC has since March 2016 sold about 584 364 carats worth US$22, 5 million from two diamond operations. About 71 000 carats were auctioned last week.
