Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08HARARE1035
2008-11-19 14:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
ZIMBABWE DIAMONDS: THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING
how-toVZCZCXRO4809 OO RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHSB #1035 3241440 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 191440Z NOV 08 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3711 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 2440 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 2558 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1058 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1834 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 2189 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2614 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 5042 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1706 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 001035
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR B.WALCH
DRL FOR N. WILETT
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E. LOKEN AND L. DOBBINS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC ECON EMIN ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE DIAMONDS: THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING
REF: A. HARARE 1016
B. 07 HARARE 319
Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee for reason 1.4 (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 001035
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR B.WALCH
DRL FOR N. WILETT
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E. LOKEN AND L. DOBBINS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC ECON EMIN ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE DIAMONDS: THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING
REF: A. HARARE 1016
B. 07 HARARE 319
Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee for reason 1.4 (d)
1. (C) We spoke about the Chiadzwa diamond fields on
November 19 with Greg Sebborn. Sebborn is the former CEO of
Zimplats and is currently a consultant to African
Consolidated Resources (ACR). He has good connections within
the Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ).
2. (C) Sebborn said Chiadzwa had the potential to be one of
the world's largest diamond mines. During the last eight
months over USD 1 billion was realized by Chiadzwa diamond
sellers. To date, the GOZ has received little revenue;
regime insiders have been the principal beneficiaries of
diamond sales. Sebborn added that in Surat, India, where
most of the world's diamonds are cut, over one-half now come
from Zimbabwe.
3. (C) Sebborn said that the CEO of ALROSA, Russia's biggest
diamond company, will visit Harare on November 25 at the
invitation of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono.
He speculated that ALROSA would discuss with Gono the
purchase of rights to Chiadzwa.
4. (C) With reference to ACR's legal claim to Chiadzwa (Ref
B),Sebborn said that ACR had received a favorable ruling in
the High Court that the GOZ was refusing to honor. For the
time being, rather than pursuing the matter legally, ACR was
trying to convince the GOZ to let it operate Chiadzwa in
exchange for a share of the profits. Sebborn opined that ACR
had not been able to strike a deal because regime insiders
are enjoying tremendous income under the status quo and are
not concerned about the government and its need for revenues.
McGee
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR B.WALCH
DRL FOR N. WILETT
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E. LOKEN AND L. DOBBINS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC ECON EMIN ZI
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE DIAMONDS: THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING
REF: A. HARARE 1016
B. 07 HARARE 319
Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee for reason 1.4 (d)
1. (C) We spoke about the Chiadzwa diamond fields on
November 19 with Greg Sebborn. Sebborn is the former CEO of
Zimplats and is currently a consultant to African
Consolidated Resources (ACR). He has good connections within
the Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ).
2. (C) Sebborn said Chiadzwa had the potential to be one of
the world's largest diamond mines. During the last eight
months over USD 1 billion was realized by Chiadzwa diamond
sellers. To date, the GOZ has received little revenue;
regime insiders have been the principal beneficiaries of
diamond sales. Sebborn added that in Surat, India, where
most of the world's diamonds are cut, over one-half now come
from Zimbabwe.
3. (C) Sebborn said that the CEO of ALROSA, Russia's biggest
diamond company, will visit Harare on November 25 at the
invitation of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono.
He speculated that ALROSA would discuss with Gono the
purchase of rights to Chiadzwa.
4. (C) With reference to ACR's legal claim to Chiadzwa (Ref
B),Sebborn said that ACR had received a favorable ruling in
the High Court that the GOZ was refusing to honor. For the
time being, rather than pursuing the matter legally, ACR was
trying to convince the GOZ to let it operate Chiadzwa in
exchange for a share of the profits. Sebborn opined that ACR
had not been able to strike a deal because regime insiders
are enjoying tremendous income under the status quo and are
not concerned about the government and its need for revenues.
McGee