Zimbabwe’s first ever diamond conference has kick-started in the resort town of Victoria Falls with about 300 delegates in attendance.
Conference organizers told Rough & Polished although they were still finalising the attendance figures, they do not expect over 300 delegates or below.
The conference had attracted several big names in the global diamond industry, which included the Kimberley Process chairperson, Ambassador Gillian Milovanovic, Tacy president Chaim Even-Zohar, World Federation of Diamond Bourses president Ernie Blom, and World Diamond Council president Eli Izhakoff.
African mines ministers from South Africa, Namibia and Angola were also in attendance.
The two-day conference would be officially opened by Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe.
Running under the theme, “Unlocking Zimbabwe’s Diamond Potential Together,” the conference seeks to spruce up the diamond image of Zimbabwe, which had over the years been mired by accusations of gross human rights abuses in the mining area of Marange.
Zimbabwe denied the charges saying its enemies were jealous of the newly found diamonds.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Exclusive
Sarine’s David Block: Diamond Industry at Standstill Until Chinese Demand Returns
David Block is CEO of Israel’s Sarine Technologies and has served in the position since 2012. In this exclusive interview for Rough and Polished, Block gives his opinion on the leading issues affecting today’s diamond trade.
11 september 2024
Dr M'zée Fula Ngenge: Demand for considerable-sized diamonds stronger than ever
The African Diamond Council (ADC) chairperson Dr M'zée Fula Ngenge told Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa in an exclusive interview that although overall global diamond prices have been somewhat soft, the demand for considerable-sized diamonds...
02 september 2024
Amplats sees prospects as a standalone company
Anglo has revealed its plans to demerge Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), which has operations in South Africa and Zimbabwe, to optimise shareholder value. Rough&Polished contacted Amplats to comment on this and other issues but was referred...
19 august 2024
WFDB President Yoram Dvash Remains Confident Despite Global Diamond Challenges
Yoram Dvash is President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) having been elected in 2020. He found time in his busy schedule to speak to Rough&Polished about the state of the diamond industry around the world and some of the major...
12 august 2024
Lyudmila Vysotskaya: Amber is a mystical stone, a living substance
Lyudmila Vysotskaya is a Kaliningrad-based amber artist and designer, expert, chairwoman of the Amber Academy and member of the Creative Union of Artists in Decorative and Applied Arts. This summer, visitors could admire the art works by Lyudmila Vysotskaya...
30 july 2024
