Editorial Comment: Our diamond sector can shine forever

Given the harsh economic experiences Zimbabwe has gone through over the past 16 years due to, among other things, hostile foreign interference, it is only natural that authorities and ordinary people expect something huge to turn around the country’s fortunes.

Amid a glut of opportunities and prospects, including initiatives in agriculture which is the traditional backbone of the economy, the diamond sector has always provided a glimmer of hope that Zimbabwe could enjoy economic stability again.

But the sector has only flattered to deceive over the past 10 years, as Zimbabwe did not reap the expected benefits from a resource that we were told was so vast as to be a world beater. As a matter of record, Zimbabwe was touted to possess about a quarter of the world’s diamond reserves.

That piece of news, though, has since ceased to make much sense as Zimbabwe has not experienced the boom associated with such a boon and this is due to a number of reasons.

First, when, circa 2006, the extraordinary find of alluvial diamonds were discovered in the east of the country — an area known as Marange (alternatively called Chiadzwa) — there was an unprecedented rush by fortune seekers who descended on the area from all over the country and afield on the continent.

And when Government moved to restore order and regulate the activities in Marange, Zimbabwe became a target of hostile lobbying by Western countries led by the United States who wanted the country’s diamonds to be disallowed from the international market for allegedly being “blood diamonds”.

The diamonds, as one might guess, were as clear and clean as any, but they were now being soiled because of a political cause against Zimbabwe by the US and its allies.

Zimbabwe, however, managed to convince the diamond world through the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme and was allowed to freely trade in its diamonds and this paved way for fully-fledged operations in the eastern border area with close to 10 companies mining.

But then it was not to be all rosy as accountability and sustainability issues came to the fore, forcing Government to early this year call for the consolidation of all activities as it would assume central control.

This has not gone down well with some companies, but as we reported yesterday, the few defiant companies can now be forced into audit by the office of the Auditor-General which means that their incorporation into the consolidated entity is a done deal.

After the disorder and some kind of lull, we hope that diamond mining can now be revived and take its place in the economy and give the nation the much needed impetus and economic growth.

In this regard, we take heart in the just-ended visit by KPCS chairperson, Mr Ahmed Bin Sulayem. Mr Sulayem said Zimbabwe was free to regulate its diamond industry and the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme would not interfere in Government’s decision to consolidate the mining firms.

He said the consolidation of diamond mining firms by the Government was an internal issue, which did not warrant the world body’s intervention.

Mr Sulayem said he was impressed by the system Zimbabwe put in place at Chiadzwa diamond fields after visiting other African countries.

Needless to point out, Mr Sulayem’s sentiments fly in the face of the country’s detractors who, in the latest attempt, sought to have Zimbabwe censured for not renewing the licenses of companies that were operating and instead consolidate them under Government watch.

We also welcome the KPCS chief’s advice on valuation and ascertaining real price of goods as well as the sacrosanct value addition and beneficiation.

After the apparent false start, it should be all systems go now for Zimbabwe having put its house in order in the name of consolidation and the international approval and goodwill expressed through the visit by the KPCS chairman.

We all hope the diamond sector can shine, and shine forever.

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