WDC Concerned about Zimbabwe

Eli Izhakoff, chairman of the World Diamond Council (WDC), said he is concerned that rough diamonds from the kimberlite River Ranch mine and alluvial diamonds from Marange in Zimbabwe, are being smuggled out of the country, and may be getting Kimberley Process Certificates.

In a letter to incoming Chair of the Kimberley Process Karel Kovanda, Izhakoff writes, “such illegal exportation presents a clear threat to the integrity of the legitimate export process as a whole.  In addition, we have heard that “River Ranch” diamonds are being mixed with production from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)."

Izhakoff appealed to the governments of Zimbabwe, South Africa and the DRC " to take necessary action to ensure that illicit diamonds cannot be exported under the Kimberley Process Certificate Scheme,” and called on importing countries to inspect "all parcels of rough diamonds emanating from southern Africa to ensure that they do not contain Zimbabwean or Congolese production.”

Responding to the letter, Kovanda wrote, “I will – as soon as I assume chairmanship – direct the EC, as Chair of the Working Group on Monitoring, to endeavor to put this item on the agenda of the next Teleconference of the Working Group on Monitoring."

He went on to state that the EC will request an update from Zimbabwe on the latest developments and actions.