ZIMBABWE recently assumed the chairmanship of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) for 2023. The scheme was established in 2003 to ensure that all global diamond mining and sales are done legally. The Sunday Mail’s TANYARADZWA RUSIKE (TR) spoke to Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando (WC) on how the country will benefit from chairing the KPCS.
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TR: Zimbabwe recently assumed the chairmanship of the KPCS. What does this mean for Zimbabwe?
WC: As you are aware, the KPCS is a worldwide scheme set up by the United Nations to essentially manage the diamond industry in the world and stop the flow of conflict diamonds. The KPCS is made up of three pillars, which are civil society, governments and the World Diamond Council (WDC).
The WDC is made up of miners, those who process the diamonds and those who retail the diamonds. The whole structure means that the retailer who sells the diamonds should be satisfied.
The Kimberly Process started in 2003, and, in terms of how it is run, there is a chairperson, vice chairperson and seven working groups, each led by a chairperson. So, the chairperson, vice chairperson and working groups are the organs that run the affairs of the KPC in-between meetings.
There are two meetings of the KPC. The first is held around June each year and the plenary meeting is held around November each year.
So, with Zimbabwe assuming the chairmanship, it means that the country is giving leadership to the running of the affairs of the KPCS. Zimbabwe is very honoured to have the opportunity to run the affairs of the KPC.
TR: What benefits are likely to accrue to Zimbabwe as leader of the KPC?
WC: The benefit of being given the honour to lead the scheme is a huge recognition for Zimbabwe’s role in the KPCS, where we participate in most of the committees, and we are really very happy.
TR: How will this top post help the country to boost the diamond sector in achieving the US$12 billion in the mining industry?
WC: The major benefit of the country is the recognition and honour to be given the opportunity to run that, but, separately, there are initiatives already underway to achieve the US$12 billion, where the diamond sector is earmarked to achieve US$1 billion by the end of next year. That US$1 billion will be achieved through notable growth in companies like Murowa Diamonds and ZCDC (Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company), which are expanding their operations.
TR: How many carats is the country expecting to produce annually in line with the 2023 milestone?
WC: In 2023, the country should produce around seven million carats of diamonds, and the plan is to continue to ramp up production at our respective mines.
TR: What progress has been made in terms of exploration for diamonds, particularly by companies such as Alrosa, which recently started exploration under the Second Republic?
WC: I will not give you much detail at this stage, suffice to say that there is active exploration of diamonds by all the four companies that are involved in the mining of diamonds — Alrosa, Murowa Diamonds, ZCDC and Anjin.
TR: At what price per carat are we currently selling our diamonds?
WC: Diamonds differ. We have what are called bot, near bot and the special stones. There are some very poor material diamonds that are for industrial use, which are being sold at a low price. There are also good stones that get good prices. So, for diamonds, it is not then a good indicator because of the different classifications.
TR: How do we compare with other diamond trading nations such as Botswana, Namibia and South Africa?
WC: Zimbabwe, from a diamond perspective, has a growing industry. Look at it from this way, that around 2018, we produced about two million carats and next year, we are talking of seven million carats.
So, Zimbabwe is going through a rapid expansion in its diamond industry. Other countries produce quite a lot, but their production is mature and they have been producing for some time, whereas Zimbabwe has a fairly rapidly growing industry. It is probably experiencing the biggest growth in the diamond industry in the world.
TR: Are we still producing super gem quality diamonds, whereby a single stone can fetch millions of US dollars. If so, are there any recent examples?
WC: We have not experienced super gem quality diamonds recently. Most of our production has been around the conglomerates, so we do not get many occurrences of super gem quality diamonds. However, as we go more into the valuable stuff, I think we should come up with super gem diamonds. – The Sunday Mail
