12
Between 2004 and 2008, with Mujuru in control, River Ranch did not publicly declare its production.
“The first public declaration was made by Tendai Biti (MDC), [Finance Minister in the government of
national unity], who stated that the annual return for River Ranch for 2009 was 75,000 carats –
exactly 25% of the potential annual yield.” PAC said that another kimberlite mine, operated by
Gideon Gono, the controversial Governor of the Reserve Bank, also operated under the radar. 46
In May 2007, six months after Operation Chirorokoza Chapera had begun; a Kimberley Process
review team flew over the Marange area and concluded that little mining was taking place at the
site. 47
On February 28, 2008, Zimbabwe’s Financial Gazette reported that the country had been cleared of
any illegal activity in the trade of diamonds following a KP Review Team visit between May and June
2007. In its report, the KP said it had found no "substantial proof" of smuggling. 48
"It is the view of the Review Team that the overall structure of the implementation of the KP
Certification Scheme (KPCS) appears to be working in a satisfactory manner in Zimbabwe, and, in
general, meets the minimum requirements of the KPCS,” the report read. 49
In December 2008, as a result of Operation Hakudzokwi, members of the Kimberley Process Civil
Society Coalition called on the KP to suspend Zimbabwe from the rough diamond certification
scheme.
"In response to the developments in Marange, the KP adopted a double-track approach, developing
specific measures to contain the flow of illicit diamonds … and responding to reports of smuggling
and violence [in a] public statement expressing ‘growing concern’ at the reports of violence…. in the
Marange mining area.” A high-level KP envoy was sent to Zimbabwe in March 2009. 50
In July 2009, a visit to Zimbabwe by a KP investigating team resulted in the publication of a damning
interim report implicating the government in human rights violations and the looting of gems at
Marange. The Financial Gazette said the report referred to “unacceptable and horrific violence
against civilians by authorities in and around Chiadzwa”. The KP team “was reserving the decision to
46
Partnership Africa Canada, ‘Diamonds and Clubs’, June 2010, pg 9:
http://www.pacweb.org/Documents/diamonds_KP/Zimbabwe-Diamonds_and_clubs-eng-June2010.pdf
47
IPS News, ‘Human Rights: More calls to ban Zimbabwe’s blood diamonds’, 23 May, 2009:
http://www.ips.org/africa/2009/05/rights-more-calls-to-ban-zimbabwe8217s-blood-diamonds/
48
Financial Gazette, ‘Probe clears Zim in diamonds trade’, 28 February 2008:
http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/feb29a_2008.html#Z13
49 Financial Gazette, ‘Probe clears Zim in diamonds trade’, 28 February 2008:
http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/feb29a_2008.html#Z13
50 Europa,EU, ‘Kimberley Process Plenary meeting further strengthens international efforts to combat trade
with conflict diamonds’, 12 November 2009:
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1701&format=HTML&aged=0?uage=EN&gui
Language=en
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