The claims, originating from the Zimbabwean press, that the Kimberley Process has given the go-ahead for the sale of rough diamonds from Marange, has no basis in fact, warns industry analyst Chaim Even-Zohar.

A revised draft version of the Brussels Proposal on a solution of the Zimbabwe impasse is being circulated among KP participants with a view to getting a KP consensus on the issue, notes Even-Zohar. The draft proposal states "Exports from compliant mining operations are to continue until the review at the KPCS Intercessional 2011 unless the WGM [Working Group on Monitoring] reaches consensus that sufficient progress is not being achieved on the remaining items under the JWP."

If Zimbabwe accepts the proposal, there is still some distance to go before an Administrative Decision will be issued by the Chair of the KPCS enabling the resumption of exports, explains Even-Zohar.

The outgoing Israeli Chair, Boaz Hirsch, has given Participants until January 10, 2011, to respond. Only then the proposal will be submitted to Zimbabwe, which has yet to consider it.

“This issue should be a deep concern to all of us in the diamond community. The failure after the last KP Jerusalem plenary to communicate the current position in a clear manner to the industry has caused, I believe, considerable damage to the industry,” comments Even-Zohar.