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Zimbabwe High Court Rejects Urgent Application On Disputed Diamond Fields


The application also sought to bar the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe, Canadile Miners and Mbada Diamonds from selling gems from Marange without the blessing of the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme

A Zimbabwean High Court judge has declined to make an urgent ruling on an application filed by African Consolidated Resources asking him to block the sale of diamonds from the Marange diamond field by two companies developing the so-called Chiadzwa area under joint ventures with Harare.

The application also sought to bar the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe, Canadile Miners and Mbada Diamonds from selling gems from Marange without the blessing of the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme.

Harare High Court Judge Bharat Patel turned down the request Monday saying African Consolidated Resources had not proven the application was urgent and that any losses suffered could be compensated.

The Supreme Court in February ruled that all diamonds from Marange must be held in custody by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. But sources told VOA that the two companies have quantities of recently mined diamonds they want to sell into the international market.

African Consolidated Resources chief executive officer Andrew Cranswick told VOA reporter Ntungamili Nkomo that his company is not discouraged by the High Court decision, though there is some concern that sales of diamonds may occur in the absence of a ruling.

In other legal business, officers from the law and order section of the Zimbabwe Republic Police Tuesday asked the Harare City Council to provide more details so they can investigate allegations that politically well-connected businessman Philip Chiyangwa and top ZANU-PF officials acquired city land questionable terms.

VOA Studio 7 correspondent Irwin Chifera reported from Harare on the continuing controversy.

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