KP Members to Meet on Monday Over Zimbabwe Diamonds

KIMBERLEY Process (KP) members will gather in Brussels today (Monday) to try reaching an agreement over Zimbabwe’s rough diamond exports from the Marange region of Manicaland province.

At the Plenary Meeting in Jerusalem earlier this month, representatives from the diamond industry and a number of member countries tried to find a mutually agreed solution. 

U.S. and Zimbabwe have drafted terms for allowing Zimbabwe to resume full exports. However, Canada and Australia opposed it.


Meanwhile, Zimbabwe has stuck with the KP monitor’s work guidelines and his greenlight that the country had satisfied the minimum conditions required to export the gems under the KP process.

Last week some US$160 million worth of diamonds were exported, despite the opposition from Australia and Canada.

Mines and Minerals Development Minister Obert Mpofu indicated that whatever the outcome of the KP meeting Zimbabwe will sell its diamonds.

He said the KP process stands to lose credibility if it bans Zimbabwe from exporting its gems over unproved claims.


* Zimbabwe Guardian