Is the Kimberley Process ruining Zimbabwe and can it ever work?

The Kimberley Process is now in its seventh year and is the most renowned certification method for identifying and monitoring the sales of non-conflict diamonds. It started as a joint venture between governments and diamond-trade members, with the backing of the United Nations and the aim of ensuring that the profits from diamond sales no longer fund rebel wars against legitimate governments.

According to their website: 

“The Kimberley Process (KP) is open to all countries that are willing and able to implement its requirements. As of November 2008, the KP has 49 members, representing 75 countries….KP members account for approximately 99.8% of the global production of rough diamonds.”

Map of Kimberley Process Member States

 And one of these 49 member states is none other than Zimbabwe, whose Marange Diamond Fields have been in and out of the news countless times over the past year. And never for the right reasons.

On Friday 29^th October 2010, Channel 4 broadcast a short episode of their Unreported World series. This particular episode centered on how Marange diamonds are being used to pay the Zimbabwean army to support Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF Party, a political party who are supposed to form part of Zimbabwe’s current coalition government. Unreported World uncovered how profit from the diamonds is ending up in the pockets of numerous army officials in return for them ensuring Zanu-PF support at the up and coming elections next year.

So how is it that this is being allowed to continue by the Kimberley Process? Is it because the narrow wording of the Kimberley Process stops the murder, rape and displacement of workers and communities near to the Marange fields from being considered as serious as “war” or because they consider the Zimbabwean government to be a “legitimate government” despite Mugabe managing to bankrupt his country leaving millions starving, homeless and at risk from disease?

On the 17^th July 2010 the Kimberley Process reached an agreement over the Marange diamonds. In their press release following this decision the Kimberley Process and World Diamond Council stated that:  The press release goes on to say:

“According to the agreement, by September Zimbabwe will be able to carry out two supervised

exports of rough diamond from the Marange production. During this period, the Kimberley Process will conduct a review mission to Zimbabwe, which will be held in conjunction with the first visit to the country by the Kimberley Process Monitor…The Kimberley Process Monitoring Committee will review the report issued by the review mission to formulate a position regarding future exports.”

“ “If this is a victory for anyone, it is a victory for the Kimberly Process,” said KP Chair Boaz Hirsch. “The past several months have been difficult, but they have clearly demonstrated that not only does the Kimberley Process have teeth, it also is able to achieve results.” ”

Zimbabwe is attempting to legitimize their diamonds by using foreign mining companies within the fields. However, research into these companies (Anjin, Mbada and Canadile) reveals that key figures within the companies include people who are on United Nations black lists for human rights violations and who have links to Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party.

It leaves us questioning why is the Kimberley Process happy to allow the trade in Zimbabwean diamonds when; 

• Influential members of the diamond industry such as the Rappaport Group warn against it?
• Or when on-going human rights violations are occurring despite the media glare?
• Or how there is no obvious improvement in Zimbabwean infrastructure despite a $30 million check for royalties being given to the country prior to the initial sale and the country is reputed to still have 4.5 million carats of diamonds left? (See Zimbabwe's Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development interview with Rough and Polished).  
• Or amongst the rumors of diamonds being sent to China in exchange for arms?

We are definitely left with more questions than answers but, overall, whilst we agree that, in theory, the Kimberley Process is a fantastic idea, the practice of it is doing more damage than good. Especially to the poor people of Zimbabwe.

That’s all for now….