WDC Supports Immediate Action to Address Marange Inspection Program

The World Diamond Council (WDC) said it supports a decision to immediately implement an inspection program that will monitor and audit diamond exports from Zimbabwe’s Marange province.

The announcement follows a Kimberley Process (KP) resolution from last week's at the end of the KP Plenary Meeting in Namibia. A KP Review Mission to Zimbabwe reported KP non-compliance with KP’s minimum requirements by the country, including wide-scale smuggling of diamonds mined at the Marange diamond fields.

The WDC said it supports the consensus reached by the KP members “to immediately implement an intensive, on-the-ground inspection program.”

“While the Zimbabwean authorities have acknowledged 'indications of significant non-compliance,' and have pledged to work with Kimberley Process authorities to address these issues, the WDC will not yield in expressing its deep concern about diamonds originating from Marange.”

According to Eli Izhakoff, chairman of the WDC, “The ability of Zimbabwe to harness its natural resources, including diamonds, for the benefit of its people is our primary concern. This is a challenging situation, but one in which determined and focused engagement provides the best chances for a successful outcome.”

WDC said the agreed work plan will consist of rigorous and comprehensive scrutiny over the next 12 months, as the KP works closely with the Zimbabwean authorities to achieve full compliance. 

“The diamond industry will be watching closely, along with the rest of the world, during the next 12 months to ensure that this opportunity is not squandered,” added Izhakoff. "This is a complicated and challenging issue, meaning there can be no perfect solution. However, this working plan represents robust and sincere action by the Kimberley Process to achieve the common objectives held by all of its participants."