It had emerged that the state authorized mining company heading the diamond auction, Mbada Diamonds had not ‘fully complied with requirements’ as the international diamond regulatory body, the Kimberly Process, and other key government departments had not been informed of the sale.
An estimated 60kgs (over 300 000 carats) of Zimbabwe’s blood diamonds were set to be sold.
Diamond buyers from across the world had flown into Harare International Airport to partake in the three day auction that was supposed to go ahead Thursday. Scores of buyers where visibly dejected after the announcement but military police moved in to quell the potential explosive situation.
In a hastily arranged press briefing, Secretary for Mines and Mining Development, Thankful Musukutwa, told reporters that the auction had been stopped until the correct laid-down process was followed.
“The due process for selling diamonds produced in Zimbabwe involves the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe, ZRP Minerals Unit and Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, where diamonds from Marange are concerned. In the case of Mbada Diamonds, this process is yet to happen.
“The Government of Zimbabwe observes and is committed to the administrative decision of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme adopted at Swakopmund, Namibia, during the November 2009 plenary meeting,” he said.
