Another Chiadzwa stalemate awaits, Briton set to monitor Zimbabwe

SOME European countries are pushing for the appointment of a Briton and former De Beers employee Mr Simon Gilberts as the new Kimberley Process Certification Scheme monitor for Zimbabwe.

This has been interpreted as fresh efforts by the West to frustrate diamond sales from Marange.

There are unconfirmed reports that Mr Abbey Chikane, the South African KP monitor for Zimbabwe has resigned. Reports say Mr Chikane was under pressure from the West to release negative reports on the

Chiadzwa diamonds from the time he was appointed monitor so that Zimbabwe remained banned from freely selling its gems on the international market.

Britain, the United States, Australia and Canada are opposed to Zimbabwe selling its diamonds although the KP recently gave the country the green light to trade in its gems.

Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu yesterday confirmed attempts to bring in Mr Gilberts.

He, however, said Zimbabwe would never work with Mr Gilberts in the event he was appointed KP monitor and that such manoeuvres would be strongly resisted.

"There has been an attempt to have him (Mr Gilberts) appointed. Some papers are being circulated around but he will never actually work in Zimbabwe," he said.

Minister Mpofu said it was surprising that some countries wanted Mr Gilberts as KP monitor for Zimbabwe when he once worked for a company that plundered the Marange diamonds.

"He is the same guy who used to work for De Beers, which spent 15 years looting our diamonds. He will never work in Zimbabwe. We do not need any monitor as we are compliant."

Zimbabwe complied with the KP regulations but Europe and America do not want the country to benefit from the diamonds, as this would frustrate illegal sanctions it imposed on Harare to paralyse the economy and effect illegal regime change.

In March this year, the KP chairman Mr Mathieu Yamba of DRC, allowed Zimbabwe to trade in its diamonds after satisfying himself that the country had complied with all the regulations.

The EU then called for an urgent meeting to force the KP to reverse its decision.

Britain claimed Mr Yamba's decision was invalid, alleging it was outside his mandate as the KP chairperson and was contrary to the KP principle of consensual decision-making.

The African Diamond Producers Association is also on record stating that Zimbabwe has met the KP requirements and applauded the decision by Mr Yamba to give the country the green light to export its diamonds.

Government said those opposed to the sale of the Marange diamonds were no longer pursuing a KP agenda but a political one.