Mpofu happy with KPCS decision

Scheme chairman Mathieu Yamba’s decision to allow Zimbabwe to export its diamond restores the organisation’s agreed mandate.
Minister Mpofu said this in his address to officers attending Joint Command Staff Course Number 24 at the Zimbabwe Staff College in Harare yesterday.
“After a protracted reluctance to reach a consensus by specific KP participants whose governments have imposed illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe, the current KP chair acted swiftly to remind the KP institution of its purpose for existence.
“The recent decision by the chair allows immediate exports of Marange diamonds from two compliant mines and we want to congratulate him for his pragmatic leadership and his desirous efforts to refocus and revive the spirit of consensus in the KP in order to safeguard its integrity,” he said.
In a letter to KP members, Mr Yamba said all unresolved issues on Zimbabwe would be discussed at the Working Group on Monitoring in November.
He said any decision to bar Zimbabwe from exporting diamonds must be subject to credible mechanisms that included verification of allegations and due processes.
However, the US still insists Zimbabwe’s diamonds should not be traded.
Minister Mpofu said the illegal sanctions were affecting the mining industry’s growth.
“These affect our drive to lure foreign investment to recapitalise our limping mines.
“As you are aware capital is a coward. Any negative signals about a particular environment – be it true or false – will drive it away.
“The negative perception being spread by our detractors has negatively impacted on our operations,” he said.
Minister Mpofu castigated South African firm De Beers for looting Zimbabwe’s diamonds in Marange under the guise of exploration.
“De Beers spent 15 years at Chiadzwa and they sent ‘samples’ in excess of 100 000 tonnes to South Africa and they called them diamond concentrates but their reports were that they did not find anything,” he said.
Minister Mpofu said Government wanted De Beers to account for these diamonds.
He commended the Zimbabwe Defence Forces for providing regional security.
“I am extremely humbled by the custodial role played by our security institutions in securing our natural resources in Zimbabwe and the region at large.
“These resources are ours and as such together with all patriotic citizens of our countries, need to enhance their security from plundering by foreigners with no benefit to the nations in which these materials reside.”
Officers from seven Sadc countries are attending the course.