News / National
Zimbabwe on KPCS Agenda again
25 Jun 2015 at 08:45hrs | Views
Reports coming in from Zimbabwe's media regarding the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme's (KPCS) Intersessional meeting in Luanda, Angola, seem to indicate that, once again, Zimbabwe's diamond mining production is coming under scrutiny.
The Herald reports that "Western countries are allegedly plotting to sneak in a controversial report which accuses Zimbabwe of money laundering and indirectly funding terrorism by selling local diamonds in the United Arab Emirates at the 13th KPCS Intercessional Plenary..."
The report, says The Herald, is by the World Policy Institute, and is likely to be dismissed "as the matter it (report) raises are outside the KPCS jurisdiction." The media source describes the report as a plot by the Western countries in "an attempt to discredit Dubai which is now rivalling Brussels as the premier diamond trade centre", as well as "aimed at swaying the vote for the KPCS vice chair, which is currently contested for by Australia and UAE."
Diamond Mine Consolidation: "no going back"
In other news, The Herald reports that the consolidation of diamond mining operations in Zimbabwe will continue, despite some resistance from some of the mining companies. Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa is quoted by the news source saying that there was no going back on the consolidation, and that mining companies should consider hastening their decision-making process, as this was the right thing for the country.
"We need to create a dominant player in the diamond sector and, more importantly, the value chain. You can never go onto the international market without a big player on your side. There are five in the world currently; we need to create our own," said Minister Chidhakwa, as quoted by the news source.
The Herald reports that "Western countries are allegedly plotting to sneak in a controversial report which accuses Zimbabwe of money laundering and indirectly funding terrorism by selling local diamonds in the United Arab Emirates at the 13th KPCS Intercessional Plenary..."
The report, says The Herald, is by the World Policy Institute, and is likely to be dismissed "as the matter it (report) raises are outside the KPCS jurisdiction." The media source describes the report as a plot by the Western countries in "an attempt to discredit Dubai which is now rivalling Brussels as the premier diamond trade centre", as well as "aimed at swaying the vote for the KPCS vice chair, which is currently contested for by Australia and UAE."
In other news, The Herald reports that the consolidation of diamond mining operations in Zimbabwe will continue, despite some resistance from some of the mining companies. Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa is quoted by the news source saying that there was no going back on the consolidation, and that mining companies should consider hastening their decision-making process, as this was the right thing for the country.
"We need to create a dominant player in the diamond sector and, more importantly, the value chain. You can never go onto the international market without a big player on your side. There are five in the world currently; we need to create our own," said Minister Chidhakwa, as quoted by the news source.
Source - diamondintelligence
