20100926
SW Radio

Thousands of people are calling for a complete reform of the international diamond trade monitor, the Kimberley Process, over is decision to certify diamonds mined at Chiadzwa.

The decision has already resulted in two auctions of a stockpile of diamonds mined at Chiadzwa in the past year. Critics have accused the Kimberley Process of 'copping out' of dealing with the human rights abuses that have tainted Zimbabwe's diamond sector. At the same time, rights groups say the Kimberley Process, which was tasked with ending the trade in blood diamonds, is turning a blind eye to the rights abuses and putting the international diamond sector at risk.

Almost six thousand people have now signed an online petition which demands that the Kimberley Process "broaden its mandate to sufficiently address human rights abuses in the diamond trade." The petition, addressed to top industry leaders including the World Diamond Council, calls on industry leaders "to support complete reform of the Kimberley Process, and urge an international effort to create a new oversight process in the diamond industry."

The petition was started by ethical jewellery group Brilliant Earth, whose co-founder Beth Gerstein told SW Radio Africa this week that the decision to certify Chiadzwa stones as "conflict free" was a serious failing by the Kimberley Process. Gerstein expressed particular concern that diamond sales in Zimbabwe are now being held in secret.

"This demonstrates another failing of the Kimberley Process, who should be demanding transparency," Gerstein said. "When oversight systems like the Kimberley Process break down, it is up to retailers and consumers to make their voices heard. Both should demand to know with certainty the origin of every diamond in the global supply chain and the conditions under which each and every diamond has been mined."

An international network of diamond buyers and suppliers meanwhile has also said the lack of transparency in sales could be allowing international diamond traders to evade the law against dealing with companies on the US and European Union (EU) sanctions lists. The US based Rapaport Diamond Trading Network (RapNet) has cautioned its members against trading in stones mined from the Chiadzwa diamond fields, partly because of the involvement of groups on the US targeted sanctions list.

The parastatal Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) took over Chiadzwa in 2006, after the legal title holders, London based African Consolidated Resources (ACR), was forced off the claim at gunpoint. In 2009 the ZMDC joined forces with two South African owned entities to mine the alluvial fields, in a partnership that will see the ZMDC take 50% of the diamond profits. But the ZMDC is still listed on the targeted sanctions lists of both the US and EU and, legally, American and European diamond groups are restricted from dealing with the ZMDC.

At the same time, there is widespread speculation that the secret sales are allowing millions of industrial diamonds to be sold to the Chinese, as part of top secret deal between Robert Mugabe and China's 'Red Army'. The agreement is reportedly keeping the regime in power, in an 'arms-for-diamonds' arrangement that is driving the plunder of the Chiadzwa diamond fields.

The UK's Daily Mail reported over the weekend how the deal made by Mugabe's loyal security forces and the equally notorious Chinese People's Liberation Army, has resulted in millions of dollars worth of industrial diamonds being mined and airlifted to China. The stones, which are not pure enough for commercial sale, are flown directly out of Chiadzwa where an airstrip was built last year. And in return, Zimbabwe's military is given weapons to keep propping up Mugabe's regime.

"The Kimberley Process has to stand up and state that this can't be tolerated, but they refuse to and the entire industry has lost credibility," Gerstein said.