African Diamond Producers Back Zimbabwe in Fight Against Trade Embargo
The African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA) has rejected calls for an extension of a year-long ban on Zimbabwean exports, describing as sinister attempts by the Kimberley Process (KP) to block trade in the country’s gems, according to an ADPA statement APA received in Harare.
ADPA secretary general Edgar de Carvalho said in a statement sent to APA on Friday that the decision to reinstate the ban on Zimbabwean diamonds smacked of political persecution of the southern African country.
“Zimbabwe cannot be held to ransom just because a minority of countries within the KP (Kimberley Process) continue to block consensus deliberately,” de Carvalho said.
Trade in diamonds from Zimbabwe’s Marange fields (east) has been outlawed since November 2009 when the KP accused the government of human rights abuses.
KP monitor Abbey Chikane allegedly cleared a batch of Chiadzwa stones for export last week without seeking the watchdog’s approval.
Diamonds worth some $160 million were sold and may have been already exported to India.
The action by the South African monitor came despite the failure by KP participants to agree on trade in Marange stones during a meeting in Jerusalem earlier this month.
KP chairperson Boaz Hirsch however warned participants to exercise vigilance and immediately report to the body’s Working Group on Monitoring any shipments suspected to contain diamonds illegally exported from Zimbabwe’s Marange fields.
He said no trade in Marange diamonds can currently take place until Zimbabwe meets the conditions of a Joint Work Plan (JWP) agreed by both parties at a plenary meeting held in Namibia last November.
Under the JWP, Zimbabwe committed to a phased withdrawal of the armed forces from the diamond fields and for a monitor to examine and certify that all shipments of diamonds from Marange met KP standards.
Source African Press Agency
African News from NetNewsPublisher.com
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Category: Africa
Zimbabwe–Has the embargo been lifted?
Nice article .
Y KP? How it has helped?
What are the % of blood diamonds? Then y not KP on other commodities.
Can I hv Email Id of African Rough Diamond producer association
Thanking you.
Y KP
Abolish the system of KP.
Thanks