(Bloomberg) – Diamonds from Zimbabwe’s Marange fields will be sold in Antwerp after the European Union lifted sanctions even as rights groups allege abuses at the mines and say revenue has financed President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party.
While a date has yet to be confirmed, the sale may take place before Dec. 20 or alternatively in January, according to the Antwerp World Diamond Centre. It will be for at least 500,000 carats, said a spokeswoman for the AWDC who asked not to be identified in line with the group’s policy.
Zimbabwe’s Daily News newspaper reported the sale will start today and will raise $37 million, citing Mines Secretary Francis Gudyanga. The AWDC said it won’t start this week.
The EU on Sept. 24 ended sanctions against the state-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Corp., which has five mining joint ventures in the Marange district. Advocacy groups including Ontario-based Partnership Africa Canada, have accused Mugabe’s party of taking about $2 billion from the fields, which may have enough diamonds to supply a quarter of the world’s demand.
Picture Global Witness
