Diamonds From Zimbabwe Field Cleared for Export .

HARARE—An international diamond monitor has agreed to allow Zimbabwe to export some of its precious stones mined from controversial fields, said two top government officials, in a compromise struck Thursday to allay criticism from human-rights groups.

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which was set up to oversee mining practices, has agreed to a deal that will allow limited exports from fields in Marange, in eastern Zimbabwe, following a meeting in Moscow that sought to break an impasse among members.

Zimbabwe mines minister Obert Mpofu said the deal would allow Zimbabwe to sell part of its stockpile. Zimbabwe would resume full exports only after the Kimberley Process sends a review team at the beginning of September, he said. Other details from the meeting weren't immediately available.

"We will be able to export Marange diamonds," Mr. Mpofu said after the decision was reached. "Zimbabwe is ready and willing to work with the [Kimberely Process] because we know the value of cooperating with the organization."

The issue of whether to allow Zimbabwe to export diamonds from the Marange field has deeply divided Kimberley Process members, who are representatives from governments, groups and industry. Zimbabwe has been under investigation for allowing the military to control the Marange diamond field, as well as permitting diamond smuggling and illegal panners—mostly local people hoping to strike it rich in the unregulated area. In November, the Kimberley Process suspended sales of Marange diamonds until improvements could be made.

At a meeting last month in Tel Aviv, the group hit a stalemate over whether to resume exports. African countries—as well as India, Russia and others—advocated lifting of the ban, in line with a recommendation from a Kimberley Process diamond monitor who recently visited the country. The U.S., Canada and human-rights groups resisted.

Mr. Mpofu had earlier threatened to export the diamonds without the group's certification. But on Thursday, after the meeting in Moscow, he said Zimbabwe would adhere to the new compromise deal. He declined to release figures on the amount Zimbabwe would sell initially.

Meanwhle, Finance Minister Tendai Biti described the KPCS decision as "progressive," but said the country would export the diamonds only after resolving a legal dispute over the land involving a London-listed company.

The compromise deal came the same week a local court released Farai Maguwu, a diamond activist who had spent more than a month in jail after calling attention to alleged practices of illegal mining and human-rights abuses in the Marange diamond fields. Tinoziva Bere, Mr. Maguwu's lawyer, said his client's release could have contributed to the compromise deal. "It's all political and commercial," he said

Source : Online WSJ