Zimbabwe diamonds not cleared

Zimbabwe’s diamonds from Marange have not been cleared despite the announcement on Thursday that agreement had finally been reached.

World Diamond Council boss El Izhakoff who was one of the advocates for the lifting of the ban said Zimbabwe had not gotten the consensus necessary under the Kimberley Process rules so his organisation was going to urge members not to trade in Marange diamonds until they got the necessary clearance.

KP chairman Mathieu Yamba gave Zimbabwe the go-ahead after the four-day intersessional meeting in Kinshasa but the ruling was strongly opposed by Zimbabwe’s traditional foes, the United States, Canada, the European Union and the non-governmental organisations.

Decisions in the KP are by consensus. An objection by a single member scuttles the whole deal.

“We came to Kinshasa knowing full well that the task ahead of us was complicated and fraught with difficulty, and over the course of the week there was a genuine and concerted effort to resolve the differences that remained,” Izhakoff was quoted by Jewellery News as saying.

“I do not feel that we reached a dead end. Progress was being made, but we simply ran out of time. We have to continue talking in order to reach the necessary consensus as soon as possible. I believe that all sides agree that what is at stake here is not only the wellbeing of the diamond business, but also the economic future of ordinary people living in the diamond producing areas. And this, of course, includes Zimbabwe, whose production provides an exciting new opportunity for economic prosperity in Africa.

“But, if the Kimberley Process is rendered ineffective as a result of indecision at the executive level, nobody really benefits. We have no alternative but to carry on looking for a solution. The Kinshasa meeting did not conclude as we would have liked, but it also did not end with any of the parties slamming the door on the KP.

“Despite their reservations about KP chair’s declaration, the U.S., E.U., Canada and Australia all expressed continuing support for KP and stated their intention to continue searching for consensus. So did the representatives of civil society, who represent the third critical pillar supporting KP, along with government and the industry. So while we may be frustrated, we have to remain confident,” he said.

Izhakoff said the World Diamond Council will advise industry members if and when participants to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme reach consensus on the issuing of KP Certificates for the export of rough diamonds from the Marange.

Izhakoff urged the participants to the KP at the beginning of the intersessional meeting in Kinshasa not to be bogged down by politics and human rights issues and focus instead on the core principles of the KP.

India and China had welcomed news of the lifting of the ban because this will create jobs in India and develop the industry in China.

Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council chairman Rajiv Jain expressed disappointment at “the disagreement between the consuming countries and African producers at KP Intersessional at Kinshasa”.

He said that the failed attempt to resolve the Marange issue would affect the “livelihood of millions in India who are involved with the diamond industry in different capacities”.

“We decry the divisions that are stopping the rightful exports from compliant mines in Marange of Zimbabwe. The politicisation of the process is demeaning the good efforts of the industry in forging an effective alliance and creating a mechanism against conflict diamonds in today’s world. Being one of the founders of KP, we will not allow these happenings to stop the rightful means of African people to earn their own resources”, he said.

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