News / National
Minister reiterates that KP approved Zim to sell diamonds
06 Jan 2011 at 17:42hrs | Views
THE Deputy Minister of Mines and Minerals Development has reaffirmed that Zimbabwe got clearance to sell diamonds from the diamond watchdog, Kimberley Process.
In a telephone interview on Thursday Gift Chimanikire said his ministry was in receipt of a letter from the Kimberley Process authorising Zimbabwe to carry out two diamond sales auctions this year.
"We have had clearance from KP to hold two diamond auctions," said the deputy minister, who is from prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC-T party.
"I have a letter from the Kimberley Process to that effect."
He added that there had been a lot of misinformation over the issue, but he is one of the authorities that can shed light on it.
"I can confirm that Zimbabwe has been given permission to hold two diamond auctions this year, despite media reports to the contrary".
He added that the gems being sold were mined by Mbada and Canadile between 2006 and 2009.
"Obviously, it's not going to happen overnight. We are currently working on the modalities for the sales now," Chimanikire said.
The minister dismissed media claims that an unnamed DRC spokesperson had said the Kimberley Process chairman was awaiting a response on an amendment to Zimbabwe's draft administrative decision inorder to approve
the two auctions.
He said "those issues are unrelated" adding: "There are many other issues that are ongoing that have nothing to do with the approval of these two diamond auction sales."
"The Kimberley Process has many issues being discussed at the moment, not only regarding Zimbabwe, but the general diamond industry. So it is untrue to say that those issues affect the approval of the two auctions
for 2011."
KP appointed monitor for Zimbabwe, Abbey Chikane, November last year said Zimbabwe had met all the conditions required to sell its gems and gave the greenlight to that effect.
Zimbabwe last year conducted two supervised sales. It is belived that there is currently a stockpile of over six million carats of diamonds.
Western member countries of KP have been trying to block the sale of rough diamonds by Zimbabwe. Russia and other non-Western states support Zimbabwe's approval.
In a telephone interview on Thursday Gift Chimanikire said his ministry was in receipt of a letter from the Kimberley Process authorising Zimbabwe to carry out two diamond sales auctions this year.
"We have had clearance from KP to hold two diamond auctions," said the deputy minister, who is from prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC-T party.
"I have a letter from the Kimberley Process to that effect."
He added that there had been a lot of misinformation over the issue, but he is one of the authorities that can shed light on it.
"I can confirm that Zimbabwe has been given permission to hold two diamond auctions this year, despite media reports to the contrary".
He added that the gems being sold were mined by Mbada and Canadile between 2006 and 2009.
The minister dismissed media claims that an unnamed DRC spokesperson had said the Kimberley Process chairman was awaiting a response on an amendment to Zimbabwe's draft administrative decision inorder to approve
the two auctions.
He said "those issues are unrelated" adding: "There are many other issues that are ongoing that have nothing to do with the approval of these two diamond auction sales."
"The Kimberley Process has many issues being discussed at the moment, not only regarding Zimbabwe, but the general diamond industry. So it is untrue to say that those issues affect the approval of the two auctions
for 2011."
KP appointed monitor for Zimbabwe, Abbey Chikane, November last year said Zimbabwe had met all the conditions required to sell its gems and gave the greenlight to that effect.
Zimbabwe last year conducted two supervised sales. It is belived that there is currently a stockpile of over six million carats of diamonds.
Western member countries of KP have been trying to block the sale of rough diamonds by Zimbabwe. Russia and other non-Western states support Zimbabwe's approval.
Source - Byo24
