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TechnoratiZimbabwe court paves way for sale of blood diamonds
Zimbabwe’s High Court has rejected an application to bar the sale of diamonds from the disputed Chiadzwa diamond fields, indicating the country may be moving closer to selling diamonds without the approval of the Kimberley Process.
The British-based mining firm African Consolidated Resources wants the government and its two South African partners barred from selling diamonds from the Chiadzwa diamond fields, which have been plagued by human rights abuses.
ACR wants its original claim to the mines reinstated. But High Court Judge Bharat Patel dismissed the application, saying the matter wasn’t urgent.
He says in the event that the Supreme Court rules in favour of ACR, the company’s losses can be worked out.
This story is front page news in the latest edition of the state-controlled daily Herald, which closely reflects the views of President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party.
The fact that the story is headlined ‘Court okays diamond sales’ is likely no coincidence. There is speculation that Zimbabwe may use this ruling to go ahead with sales of Chiadzwa diamonds, even though the Kimberley Process hasn't yet given the go-ahead.
Mugabe has said Zimbabwe will, if necessary, defy the global diamond watchdog. So has the mines minster Obert Mpofu.
The Kimberly Process says the Zimbabwe authorities and their South African partners still haven’t complied with basic standards. But this story could suggest the country is preparing to go it alone.
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