“The headline challenge of the past two years in the KP has been and continues to be Zimbabwe. We remain concerned about Zimbabwe’s lack of progress in implementing the minimum requirements of the Kimberley Process with respect to the Marange diamond fields,” Robert F. Cekuta, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy, Sanctions and Commodities in the [...]
ZIMBABWE’S former Ambassador to the United States and retired High Court judge Dr Simbi Mubako will chair a disciplinary tribunal to try suspended Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation senior officials who are facing 16 counts of corruption, according to the newspaper published by the government of Zimbabwe. The hearing begins with chief executive Mr Dominic Mubayiwa [...]
According to the Zimbabwean govt newspaper, the government of Zimbabwe will undertake an aeromagnetic survey of the Eastern Highlands to determine the extent of diamond reserves in Manicaland province. Mines and Mining Development permanent secretary Mr Thankful Musukutwa said this while addressing an Indian delegation that visited Zimbabwe last week to explore trade opportunities in [...]
According to the Zimbabwean government’s newspaper, Mbada Diamonds is to double its diamonds output once exploration work at the mine in Chiadzwa in Marange to determine the quantity of diamonds is complete.
Campaign groups Global Witness and Partnership Africa Canada (PAC) today categorically rejected allegations that they offered to support Zimbabwe’s bid to resume diamond exports in exchange for a 1% cut of the profits. The allegation surfaced at the end of the week-long meeting of the Kimberley Process (KP) diamond certification scheme, where Zimbabwe’s compliance with [...]
South Africa’s Abbey Chikane, who has recently arrived in Zimbabwe to monitor the Kimberley Process, has allegedly been described as advancing Europe’s interests during his current visit. Thankful Musukutwa, the Permanent Secretary in Zimbabwe’s Mines and Minerals Ministry is alleged to have stated “This person appointed to this Kimberley Process is the Zimbabwe sanctions advisor [...]
African Consolidated Resources Plc, the AIM listed resource development company focussed in Zimbabwe, has provided an update on ACR’s right to mine the eastern Marange diamond fields (‘the Marange Claims Area’). African Consolidated was successful in a High Court Judgement handed down on 25 September 2009 (‘the 25 September Judgement’) which upheld ACR’s title to [...]
“We can sell our diamonds our own way,” Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe told a trade and tourism fare held in Harare, according to local media reports. “We are trying to play their way, but we could go outside the KP system and do it otherwise,” Mugabe, is reported to have told journalists. The declaration comes [...]
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has dismissed the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Regulations as being of no force as they were gazetted without consultation within government. Under the terms of the act, all companies are required to submit an indigenisation plan by April 15, 2010 explaining how their Zimbabwean operations will achieve the required minimum level [...]
Rio Tinto Diamonds’ diamonds operations incurred a loss of $68 million in 2009, compared with earnings of $137 million in 2008. Lower prices and lower volumes as a result of the global economic slowdown were the main cause. Measures were taken to redress this performance including shutdowns at Argyle and Diavik to balance production with [...]
Ingle & Rhode, the UK’s principal retailer of ethical jewellery and custom engagement rings produced using conflict-free diamonds and fair trade gold, comment on the revelations that Zimbabwe’s government have been using military force to partition diamonds away from UK-based company, African Consolidated Resources. African Consolidated Resources (ACR) and the Zimbabwean government have been in [...]
The reported human rights abuses in the Marange diamond fields in Zimbabwe are of grave concern to all who advocate responsible practices in the jewellery supply chain. The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) includes specific provisions regarding human rights and conflict diamonds as part of its Certification System, formally launched in December 2009. Marange Diamonds In [...]