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The all-clear from the Kimberley Process means that Zimbabwe can start exporting Anjin’s huge two-million-carat stockpile.
The plenary, hosted by current KP chair the DRC, endorsed the export of all diamonds produced in the Marange area.
“Plenary endorses exports of production from the compliant mining operations of Marange Resources and Mbada with immediate effect,” read the historic deal.
The Kinshasa plenary appointed a monitoring team comprising Mr Abbey Chikane and Mr Mark van Bockstael.
Mr Chikane is no stranger to Zimbabwe, having conducted some monitoring in Marange on behalf of the KP.
Mr van Bockstael, a tough backroom operator who has previously criticised Zimbabwe, also chairs the KP’s working group on diamond experts.
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“Compliant mining operations will share mine level data with the KP monitoring team’s verification of compliance. The KP monitoring team will verify compliance of operations of those other producing mines according to KPCS minimum requirements, including full access to these mining sites,” said the plenary.
Zimbabwe, for its part, must uphold the KP minimum requirements and will report to the intersessional meeting in 2012 on matters pertaining to identification of further investors, regulation of artisanal mining, fight against illicit digging and smuggling.
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The nation must also ensure that KP civil society coalition representatives in Zimbabwe will have access to the Marange area so as to allow continued reporting on KPCS implementation.
The decision to grant Zimbabwe the go-ahead to export will be kept under constant review in light of progress towards KP compliance and shall apply until the 2012 KP plenary.
Minister Mpofu, in his closing address to the plenary, thanked the African diamond producers for standing by Zimbabwe.
“This, to us, is a great day for Africa, it is a historic event that will live on for many years to come,” he said, drawing a sustained standing ovation from the delegates.
“At one stage I felt we need to be out of this organisation (KP). In fact, I thought we were going to chicken out of an organisation of this magnitude. But Zimbabwe is not a chicken state. We decided to soldier on,” he said.
Canada, China, the European Union, Norway, Australia, Botswana, the DRC, Ghana, Brazil, Liberia the United Arab Emirates, Namibia and India addressed the plenary, pledging their support for Zimbabwe’s diamond industry.
Discussions over Zimbabwe’s diamond question had earlier taken on a political complexion, with serious lobbying and horse-trading between Western countries on one side and African nations on the other.
The United States, Canada, Australia, the European Union and their allies in the 76-member KP grouping have in the past 18 months relentlessly frustrated Zimbabwe’s efforts to sell the Marange diamonds on the international market, citing so-called human rights abuses and alleged non-compliance with KP certification requirements.
But African nations have shown commendable tenacity at the Kinshasa plenary by caucusing behind the scenes in a push to tame the powerful countries.
Online Reporter