Zim blames gem vetting process

ZIMBABWE has placed the blame for not complying with the principles of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KP) on the global diamond trade regulator itself, saying the watchdog has reneged on technical assistance to the country.

Zimbabwe has been on the red carpet at the KP meeting in Swakopmund, chaired by Namibia, since Monday to defend itself against allegations of ‘blood diamond’ dealings which could see the country facing an export ban.In the state-owned The Herald yesterday, Zimbabwean Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu said the country ‘has done everything possible’ to ensure full KP compliance.’Minister Mpofu said the global diamond trade regulator had promised Zimbabwe technical support but nothing had materialised,’ The Herald reported on the official’s feedback at the Swakopmund meeting.According to the daily, Mpofu said that Zimbabwe had made formal requests to Namibia and South Africa for capacity building assistance in order to achieve compliance with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme at the Marange diamond fields.’On August 21 2009, (Government) made a formal request to South Africa and Namibia to assist in capacity building in order to achieve full compliance.’South Africa responded on October 9 2009 by seconding an expert to work with Zimbabwe,’ The Herald quotes Mpofu.No mention is made of any steps by Namibia to assist. Zimbabwe’s Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, accompanied by Deputy Mines and Mining Development Minister Murisi Zwizwai, led a diamond industry contingent to Namibia in October, where the KP featured high on the agenda. During their three-day visit, the delegation of ten also visited State House. On Tuesday, Mpofu told the Swakopmund meeting that Zimbabwe, in the absence of the promised KP help, has improved its systems with the limited resources to the government’s disposal. ‘We strongly believe that as a country, we have done all in complying with the requirements of the process,’ The Herald quoted him. ‘With limited resources available to us, we certainly have made considerable progress in achieving full compliance in the KP requirements.’The situation on the ground in the Marange diamond field is rapidly changing with the implementation of our work plan,’ he is quoted.Media reports yesterday speculated that it is unlikely that the KP meeting will ban Zimbabwe from diamond trading when it ends today.The Zimbabwean government has allegedly been running a fierce intimidation campaign against witnesses who were to testify before the meeting.The UK daily The Independent traced Farai Maguwu, the head of the Centre for Research and Development in Mutare. Maguwu told them in a telephonic interview from Swakopmund that he has been followed since leaving Zimbabwe and that he has apparently been threatened by senior officials.’My presence here didn’t go down too well with them and they’ve had me followed,’ The Independent quoted him as saying. – Own report, The Herald, The Independent