Zimbabwe ropes in company associated with looting the country’s diamonds

Bubye Minerals’ lawyer Terrence Hussein said the statement by the UNDP was a vindication of what Bubye Minerals had complained about all along.

“We at no time ever said or complained that the UN as an organisation was involved in diamond smuggling or was involved at the mine. Our complaint had two issues: that UN registered vehicles were being used at the mine and that UN accredited staff members were employed at the mine,” he said.

Secretary for Transport and Communications, George Mlilo, in a letter to River Ranch’s lawyers, Costa and Madzonga, dated 15 November 2007, said that the two vehicles, AAQ9041 and AAQ9042 were registered in the name of the UNDP due to incompetence by Central Vehicle Registry staff.

River Ranch was discovered by De Beers in the 1970s but was never exploited until the government intervened and it was taken over by Australian company Auridium. It was supposed to have a life-span of 10 years at a production rate of 500 000 carats a year.

It produced 474 134 carats in its first year of production in 1996 but shut down in February 1998 because of poor diamond prices. Auridium produced 39 000 carats in January, just before closing down the mine.

The mine did not operate until November 2004. Production between 2004 and 2007 was very opaque because of the ownership dispute but Finance Minister in the inclusive government Tendai Biti said it produced 75 000 carats in 2008.

Aujan  put up the mine for sale shortly after his partner Solomon Mujuru died in mysterious fire in 2011 but there appears to have been no takers. Aujan died four years ago.

Here are some stories The Insider published on River Ranch and Amsco a few years ago:

UN owned company assisting Mujuru’s company
https://www.insiderzim.com/un-owned-company-assisting-mujurus-company/

AMSCO tight-lipped about its contract with River Ranch
https://www.insiderzim.com/zimbabwe-diamonds-amsco-tight-lipped-about-its-contract-with-river-ranch/

Zimbabwe diamonds – UNDP investigator coming to Harare
https://www.insiderzim.com/zimbabwe-diamonds-undp-investigator-coming-to-harare/

Do away with double standards
https://www.insiderzim.com/do-away-with-away-double-standards/

UNDP admits vehicles registered in its name were used to smuggle diamonds
https://www.insiderzim.com/undp-admits-vehicles-registered-in-its-name-were-used-to-smuggle-diamonds/

UNDP and River Ranch panic
https://www.insiderzim.com/undp-and-river-ranch-panic/

Government confirms River Ranch vehicles were registered in the name of UNDP
https://www.insiderzim.com/government-confirms-river-ranch-vehicles-were-registered-in-the-name-of-undp/

Ex-River Ranch managers had UNDP permits 17 months after expiry of contract
https://www.insiderzim.com/ex-river-ranch-managers-had-undp-permits-17-months-after-expiry-of-contract/

River Ranch piles up pressure to silence The Insider
https://www.insiderzim.com/river-ranch-piles-up-pressure-to-silence-the-insider/

Dutch company assisted Mujuru and Kaukonde
https://www.insiderzim.com/dutch-company-assisted-mujuru-and-kaukonde/

Dutch government gives lame excuse for allowing company to bust EU sanctions
https://www.insiderzim.com/dutch-government-gives-lame-excuse-for-allowing-company-to-bust-eu-sanctions/

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