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 to [...]
Africa
Abbey Chikane Allegedly Labelled as European Representative by Leading Official in Zimbabwean Mines Ministry
Africa
Zimbabwe Supreme Court Judgement Orders Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation to Cease Mining Activities at Marange Diamond Claims
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’) [...]
Africa
Reports: Robert Mugabe Threatens to Bypass Kimberley Process: “We Can Sell Our Diamonds Our Way”
“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 just 2 [...]
Africa
Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai Labels Indigenisation Regulations ‘Null and Void’
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 of [...]
Africa
Rio Tinto Diamond Operations Incure Losses of $68 Million in 2009; Saw Earnings of $137 Million in 2008
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 [...]
Africa
Ingle & Rhode Comment On The State Of Zimbabwe’s Diamond Mining Industry
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 dispute [...]
Africa
The Responsible Jewellery Council Issues Statement to Members Over Zimbabwe’s Marange Diamonds
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 November 2009, [...]
Company News
Clark McEwen Appointed as Marketing Manager of Rio Tinto Diamonds as Patick Coppens Becomes Rio Tinto Diamonds Sales Manager
Rio Tinto, one of the world’s leading diamond companies, is reorganising its Antwerp-based sales and marketing management team.
Integral to this reorganisation is the appointment of Clark McEwen to the position of Marketing Manager, reporting to Jean-Marc Lieberherr, Rio Tinto Diamonds General Manager, Sales and Marketing. Clark will be based in Antwerp, effective March 1. Clark [...]
Africa
World Diamond Council Calls for Increased Efforts by Kimberley Process Participants to Achieve Full Compliance in Zimbabwe
For more than a year, the World Diamond Council has voiced its concerns regarding allegations of human rights abuses in Zimbabwe and significant examples of irregularities concerning Kimberley Process compliance.
Following agreement of the Working Plan, in November 2009, the World Diamond Council said the world would be watching closely and cautioned the Kimberley Process and [...]
Africa
Tiffany, Zale, Cartier and other Major Diamond Retailers Receive Human Rights Watch Letter Urging them not to Purchase or Sell Diamonds from Zimbabwe
Following is an open letter from NGO Human Rights Watch to Tiffany, Zale, Cartier and other major diamond retailers urging them not to purchase or sell diamonds from Zimbabwe:
Dear Sir:
I am writing to urge your company to publicly commit to not purchase or sell diamonds from Zimbabwe.
Throughout 2009, Human Rights Watch conducted field-based research [...]
Africa
Jewelers of America Calls for Immediate Action in Zimbabwe
Jewelers of America (JA), the national trade association for businesses serving the fine jewelry retail marketplace, has called on the Kimberley Process (KP) to fully and quickly implement a Work Plan, agreed on between the KP and the government of Zimbabwe. The Work Plan is designed to address serious concerns over the country’s non-compliance with [...]
Africa
Kimberley Process Zimbabwe Review Mission Final Report’s Recommendations
While the Kimberley Process review mission team found that some aspects of the Zimbabwean system of internal controls and KP compliance appear to function without concern, they identified several areas in which Zimbabwe was found to be non-compliant with the minimum requirements of the KPCS.
As set forth in the Mandate, the Team has developed [...]
