Global Witness says government should cancel Anjin contract

A British non-governmental organisation Global Witness says the government should cancel the contract of diamond miner Anjin, a joint venture between a Chinese and a Zimbabwean company.

In its report released on Valentine’s Day, the organisation says the government should also review all other contracts in the Marange diamond fields, and audit concession allocation procedures and operations conducted so far to see whether they represent a good deal for Zimbabwe.

Its main worry is that diamond revenues from Marange may be going to military and security forces closely aligned to the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front and could be used in the coming elections to prop the party.

It questions the ownership of Matt Bronze, the joint venture partner in Anjin, and Transfrontier International which has a stake in Mbada diamonds and says Anjin and Mbada should publish details of their ultimate beneficial owners.

Global Witness says the Kimberley process should not authorise sales of diamonds from Anjin.

The organisation pulled out of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme last year after the KP readmitted Zimbabwe.

Anjin says it is now the biggest diamond miner in the world.

Diamonds from Marange, though reportedly of lower quality, have already sent shockwaves in the market and have resulted in the plummeting of prices.

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