Africa-Press – Cape verde. THE 3rd Extraordinary Council of Ministers from 19 diamond producing countries in Africa has approved a constitution aimed at enhancing competition of the mineral in the world market.
Equally, the ministers have also endorsed laws and regulations to protect the resource so that it can benefit the countries.
Minister for Minerals, Doto Biteko revealed this after an emergency meeting of the African Diamond Producers Association Member States, saying the meeting has decided to employ a Chief Executive Officer and two deputies to work for the association.
Dr Biteko further noted that all the decisions made by the ADPA ministers were largely aimed at having a strong association and common statement for enhancing diamond business in Africa.
He said in the meeting chaired by Tanzania that members have ensured that their association continues to grow stronger by amending some laws, regulations and having powerful constitution for the benefit of Africa.
In a related development, the Minister said ADPA was established in accordance with the Declaration of Luanda, Angola in November 2006. The main goal of the creation of the Association was to provide African diamond-producing countries with a platform to meet and have a common goal to ensure that the mineral resources benefit the member states, but the association had no teeth but at the moment they are strong and have a common statement.
Dr Biteko said Tanzania signed the ADPA Agreement on November 4, 2006, and continues to be a good member, adding that Tanzania assumed leadership of the African Diamonds Producers Association (ADPA) from Angola, and next year they expect to hand over the leadership to Zimbabwe.
Tanzania is the eighth African country as far as diamonds production is concerned and ranks at number 10 globally.
The country has registered major milestone in Diamond production despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Biteko, the country had in the 2019/2020 financial year produced a record 500,000 carats from 377,000 that were mined in 1977.
ADPA is an intergovernmental organisation that seeks to strengthen the level of influence African diamond-producing countries have on the world diamond market.
ADPA adopts harmonised legal solutions and the exchange of information between member countries in areas related to mining and commercialisation in which individual states have acquired valuable experience.
The Association promotes mutual technical assistance in the coordination of policies and strategies of development of the diamondiferous sector.
It also works to transform conflict diamonds into minerals of peace and sustainable development.
ADPA also strives to build cooperation between member countries in policies and strategies concerning prospecting, mining, production, cutting and polishing, as well as development of human resources.
ADPA Member States include Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, DR Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Namibia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo and Zimbabwe.
Observer countries include Algeria, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali and Mauritania.
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