Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) Chairman Benhard Esau has said the Kimberly team has not suspended Zimbabwe from the trading of diamonds, ZBC News reported on Thursday.
Speaking at a news conference in Harare, Esau said Zimbabwe was not suspended from trading its diamonds, adding that calls by some members of the KPCS for the country's suspension will not be taken seriously.
He said the KPCS team has put in place a regional taskforce to work as an overseer of the monitoring teams in Zimbabwe.
"Zimbabwe was not suspended but the Kimberly team made recommendations in its interim report. We spoke about voluntary suspension on August 4 at a teleconference but no consensus was reached. Yes, there are members of the Kimberly process trying to convince other members to suspend Zimbabwe but we will not entertain such (calls)" said Esau.
Minister of Mines and Mining Development Obert Mpofu said the government is ensuring total compliance with the recommendations made by the Kimberly team in its interim report.
"We would use the recommendations to fully comply with your proposals and we've set up a taskforce to supervise the full implementation of the recommendations," Mpofu told the KPCS boss.
The Kimberly team led by the chairman is in the country until Saturday on a routine visit. It will hold meetings with various stakeholders in the mining sector and will have a chance of visiting some of the diamond mines in the country, including the Marange diamond fields.