adminThe move follows the recent certification of Chinese diamond miner Anjin despite attempts by Western countries and non-governmental organisations to prevent the country from benefiting from its precious minerals.
Western countries which imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe as retribution for redistributing prime agricultural land from whites to blacks, frantically lobbied the KP to ban Marange diamonds to ensure the
country did not bust the ruinous embargo.
Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Gift Chimanikire said the company was now awaiting certification to sell its gems.
“Pure Diamonds is now awaiting certification from the KP,” he said.
“It has stockpiled diamonds that cannot be exported until the KP certifies them.”
Pure Diamonds is among five companies the Government licensed to operate in the Chiadzwa diamond fields in Manicaland in partnership with the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) and has been conducting exploration exercises.
Other companies include Mbada Diamonds, Marange Mineral Resources, Sino Zim and Anjin.
Deputy Minister Chimanikire said by the first quarter of next year the application process would have been completed.
“The move will further push up diamond output.”
Marange Resources, Mbada Diamonds and Anjin are already exporting.
Pure Diamonds has so far extracted over 197 000 carats of rough diamonds and now awaits the Kimberley Process Certification to start exporting.
Sale of Marange diamonds has long divided the KP along political lines, with Western countries led by the United States, Germany and Australia as well as civil society groups from these countries calling for the stones to be banned.
African and other countries, including Russia, have however opposed the ban, which resulted in the licensing of three out of the five companies operating in Chiadzwa.
Discovery of the Marange treasure trove pushed Zimbabwe to the seventh-biggest diamond producer in the world in 2010, up from 13th the previous year. — New Ziana.
Online Reporter