ZIMBABWE will begin auctioning diamonds from its controversial Marange fields on Thursday, state media reported, as the government moves to curb illegal trade and comply with international standards.
ZIMBABWE will begin auctioning diamonds from its controversial Marange fields on Thursday, state media reported, as the government moves to curb illegal trade and comply with international standards.
Rights groups, which accuse Zimbabwe's security forces of committing widespread atrocities in a bid to stop t illegal diamond miners who descended on the poorly secured fields in the eastern part of the country, have been pushing for a ban on Zimbabwean diamonds.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme - which regulates the global diamond trade - voted last November to allow Zimbabwe to continue mining and trading in diamonds, but gave it six months to improve conditions in Marange.
The government, through its mining arm Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, has partnered little-known South African companies, Core Mining and Grandwell Holdings, to set up Mbada Diamonds, a joint venture firm that is mining diamonds in Marange.
Mbada Diamonds chairman Robert Mhlanga told the state-controlled Herald newspaper that about 300000 carats worth of diamonds would be auctioned on Thursday. - Reuters
Zim moves to curb illegal diamond trade
ZIMBABWE will begin auctioning diamonds from its controversial Marange fields on Thursday, state media reported, as the government moves to curb illegal trade and comply with international standards.
ZIMBABWE will begin auctioning diamonds from its controversial Marange fields on Thursday, state media reported, as the government moves to curb illegal trade and comply with international standards.
Rights groups, which accuse Zimbabwe's security forces of committing widespread atrocities in a bid to stop t illegal diamond miners who descended on the poorly secured fields in the eastern part of the country, have been pushing for a ban on Zimbabwean diamonds.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme - which regulates the global diamond trade - voted last November to allow Zimbabwe to continue mining and trading in diamonds, but gave it six months to improve conditions in Marange.
The government, through its mining arm Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, has partnered little-known South African companies, Core Mining and Grandwell Holdings, to set up Mbada Diamonds, a joint venture firm that is mining diamonds in Marange.
Mbada Diamonds chairman Robert Mhlanga told the state-controlled Herald newspaper that about 300000 carats worth of diamonds would be auctioned on Thursday. - Reuters