Zimbabwe Knocked Back by Kimberley Process for Diamond Exports

Zimbabwe has still not managed to get approval from the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) to sell its diamonds from the controversial Marange field. KPCS officials were hoping to reach an agreement by Thursday but this did not materialize.

Informal talks had produced an agreement that was not acceptable to Canada, Australia and a few other countries, much to Zimbabwe’s disappointment. It has threatened to release its diamond stockpile into the global market without approval as under priced diamonds.

The global oversight body of the diamond industry had banned Zimbabwe from exporting its diamonds as allegations of human rights groups of forced labour, torture and harassment of the workers abounded. Sharon Gefen the spokeswoman for the Israel Diamond Institute said that the 75 national global bodies wished to end the trade of diamonds which funds fighting across Africa.

KPCS was introduced by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/56 following recommendations in the Fowler Report. The process was established in 2003 to prevent diamond sales from financing rebellious movements. The certification scheme aims at preventing "blood diamonds" from entering the mainstream rough diamond market. It was set up to assure consumers that by purchasing diamonds they were not financing war and human rights abuses.