Zimbabwe Government Dismisses Diamond Smuggling Rumors

The government in Zimbabwe is dismissing the rumors about diamonds that are being smuggled out of South Africa by their companies. The incoming chair of the Kimberley Process had summoned executives from River Ranch Limited to respond to allegations of smuggling made by WDC. River Ranch Limited denied the allegations and said that they have not transported any diamonds since 1998 because of the liquidation and wonder where the reports came from. WDC said it had received reports that diamonds in Zimbabwe were possibly being combined with blood diamonds from the DRC .Then they were being smuggled into neighboring South Africa, where they were being certified and exported. Eli Izhakoff said he had written to Karel Kovanda to inform him of the new reports.

This has not been the first time Zimbabwe has been linked to illegal diamonds in the DRC; they have been linked before in the past. Midzi stressed the attempts to clean up the mining sector and the government claimed it cracked down on illegal gold and diamond mining. Because of this crackdown thousands of people have been arrested for illegal panning of gold and diamonds before they tried to leave the country. Carina Tertsakian of Global witness said that DRC still has a lot of diamond smuggling even though they are a member of the Kimberly Process.


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