The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) has called on members of the Kimberley Process (KP) to urgently allow Zimbabwe sell its rough diamonds.
A statement released by WFDB president Avi Paz yesterday, urged members to take the “essential and courageous decision” to allow Zimbabwe to export rough diamonds from all diamond mining areas in the country, including Chiadzwa.
“The Kimberley Process, due to the deadlock in its decision-making process and its experts’ ensuing indecision to allow rough diamond exports from Zimbabwe to resume, is about to cause irreparable damage throughout the entire supply pipeline of our industry and trade, and threatens the livelihood of literally millions of people throughout the international diamond and jewellery sector.”
Zimbabwe had been barred from selling its diamonds from Marange openly because of alleged human rights violations.
“While the diamond industry and trade is in a position to contribute to the betterment of many Zimbabwean citizens, the inaction of the Kimberley Process, its members and its experts is now the major stumbling block toward real progress,” said Paz
The KP plenary in Jerusalem last year failed to reach an agreement on Zimbabwe’s controversial gems.
The country was later allowed to trade, under stringent conditions.
Zimbabwe, however, rejected the offer saying it would not accept any preconditions to sell the Chiadzwa diamonds because the mines meet KP guidelines.
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