THE Chiadzwa Community Share Ownership Trust (CCSOT) has petitioned a global mining watchdog, Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), warning that Zimbabwe’s gems could soon be classified as ‘conflict diamonds.’
Zimbabwe’s diamond industry was on the cusp of being condemned if immediate action was not taken to block a proposed deal in which the State-owned Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamonds Corporation (ZCDC) is being commandeered to take up shareholding worth US$400 million in Great Dyke Investments (GDI), the trust said.
GDI is controlled by a private firm called Kuvimba Mining House.
Protestations by the CCSOT against the deal flared up after Zimbabwe assumed the chairmanship of the Kimberley Process (KP) and Africa Diamond Producers Association (ADPA) this year.
In its latest move, the CCSOT represented, by chief executive officer HardworkMukwada, wrote to IRMA cautioning of potential conflict.
“We are completely convinced that ZCDC is no longer compliant with IRMA stipulations on company-community relations and development. This situation is capable of eroding the integrity and credibility of IRMA given that ZCDC is affiliated to IRMA,” the letter dated March 29 reads.
The letter was addressed to IRMA executive director Aimee Boulanger.
“We kindly request IRMA to carefully go through the documents below as well as attachments so that you may have an accurate appreciation of the evidence-based development of the suffocation, death and decomposition of the Marange diamond community.
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“We would like to let you know that the situation continues to grossly deteriorate and we do not see any light at the end of the tunnel as we are reliving those fierce dark days…when dog bites, gunshots and civilian torture used to be the order of the day in the Chiadzwa diamond fields,” Mukwada wrote.
“Illicit diamond trade has become rampant as cameras are allegedly being switched off at the mine as diamonds are being shipped for illegal sales in Mozambique.
“It now remains unclear to what extent these leaking diamonds being sold in Mozambique are contributing to ongoing wars meant to topple the legitimate government of the Republic of Mozambique,” excerpts of the letter seen by the Independent read.
ZCDC is affiliated with IRMA, which is headquartered in the United States (US).
According to its website, IRMA’s approach to responsible mining is to certify social and environmental performance at mine sites globally using an internationally recognised standards that has been developed in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders.
The trust said if the US$400 million transaction sails through, ZCDC would “no longer compliant with IRMA stipulations.”
CCSOT has noted that its resources were being diverted to develop other areas.
ZCDC chief executive officer Mark Mabhudhu was suspended by the board for travelling to Thailand to receive a personal award instead of finalising the deal.
This week he appeared before the company’s disciplinary committee to answer to the charge levelled against him but results of the hearing were not yet available.
