New initiative to prevent diamond misuse

NAMIBIA and other diamond-producing countries have established a body to curb the misuse of African diamonds, a Belgian consulting group and Nepad said on Monday.

They said the Diamond Producers of Africa (DPA) initiative came after extensive consultations on the development of a common platform for African diamond-producing countries. “African diamonds have suffered in the past through abuse of this diminishing asset in the context of conflicts and instability,” the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad) and Belgian International Economic Strategy (IES) said in a joint statement.A key mission of the DPA would be to anticipate and prevent circumstances resulting in “the misuse of one of Africa’s leading and most sensitive resources.”The new body would include Angola, Botswana, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Lesotho, Liberia, Namibia, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Tanzania.The Nepad secretariat and IES said focused education and training for the diamond sector on the continent would be a principal resource in unlocking diamond and human capital.”The DPA will seek to protect the collective reputation and image of all African diamonds,” read the statement.”Best trade practice, good governance, transparency and accountability will be rigorously benchmarked and will sustain both diamond and broader economic development for…diamond-producing countries.”A workshop engaging these diamond producers would be held in the coming weeks.”Nepad looks forward to energetically backing Africa’s growing role and responsibility in the global diamond and jewellery industry,” said Nepad chief executive Professor Firmino Mucavele.- Nampa-Sapa”African diamonds have suffered in the past through abuse of this diminishing asset in the context of conflicts and instability,” the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad) and Belgian International Economic Strategy (IES) said in a joint statement.A key mission of the DPA would be to anticipate and prevent circumstances resulting in “the misuse of one of Africa’s leading and most sensitive resources.”The new body would include Angola, Botswana, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Lesotho, Liberia, Namibia, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Tanzania.The Nepad secretariat and IES said focused education and training for the diamond sector on the continent would be a principal resource in unlocking diamond and human capital.”The DPA will seek to protect the collective reputation and image of all African diamonds,” read the statement.”Best trade practice, good governance, transparency and accountability will be rigorously benchmarked and will sustain both diamond and broader economic development for…diamond-producing countries.”A workshop engaging these diamond producers would be held in the coming weeks.”Nepad looks forward to energetically backing Africa’s growing role and responsibility in the global diamond and jewellery industry,” said Nepad chief executive Professor Firmino Mucavele.- Nampa-Sapa