News / National
Zimbabwe vetoes a KP Local Focal Point nominee backed by the civil society
15 Jul 2011 at 05:13hrs | Views
Zimbabwe's Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu has declared the appointment of Shamiso Mtisi as the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme Local Focal Point null and void.
According to The Zimbabwean, Mpofu said the nomination by the civil society was invalid, as it lacked the consensus of all participants, which is required according to the KPCS statutes. This is the same statement that western countries opposed to Zimbabwe's diamond sales are using for not allowing Zimbabwe to sell its diamonds.
This marks the second time that the Zimbabwe government has vetoed a KP Local Focal Point nominee who was backed by the civil society.
Representatives of some 70 countries that belong to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme met last month with civil society representatives and diamond industry figures and one key issue was over allowing Zimbabwe to export diamonds from the Marange fields. KPCS decisions require a consensus from the government, diamond industry and civil society.
According to The Zimbabwean, Mpofu said the nomination by the civil society was invalid, as it lacked the consensus of all participants, which is required according to the KPCS statutes. This is the same statement that western countries opposed to Zimbabwe's diamond sales are using for not allowing Zimbabwe to sell its diamonds.
This marks the second time that the Zimbabwe government has vetoed a KP Local Focal Point nominee who was backed by the civil society.
Representatives of some 70 countries that belong to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme met last month with civil society representatives and diamond industry figures and one key issue was over allowing Zimbabwe to export diamonds from the Marange fields. KPCS decisions require a consensus from the government, diamond industry and civil society.
Source - DiamondWorld
