On Monday July 6, the Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition (KP CSC) organised a webinar on addressing the challenges posed by Covid-19 for African diamond mining communities. This webinar was attended by over 70 representatives from various governments, international organisations, mining companies, industry associations, jewelers, and civil society. KP CSC Coordinator Shamiso Mtisi from the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) opened and moderated the webinar, which started with the presentation of the new KP CSC report on this matter by ZELA’s Joyce Machiri. Hans Merket, researcher at KP CSC member IPIS, subsequently zoomed in on the risk of increased conflict and criminal financing posed by the the global measures aimed at curbing the pandemic. This was followed by a number of reflections by the Chair of the KP Working Group on Alluvial and Artisanal Production, Maurice Miema, on what the Kimberley Process should do to address these challenges. The final panelist, Joanne Lebert, Executive Director at IMPACT, stressed the role and importance of holistic responsible sourcing efforts for the sector as a whole. These presentations were followed by a lively questions & answers session.
You can also find the video of the webinar on ZELA’s Facebook page:
