Title fight for African Consolidated

Production and Markets

Publishing Date: 11 Nov 2009 5:23pm GMT
Author: Mining Journal

African Consolidated Resources plc (ACR) said it will fight to regain its title to the Marange diamond deposit in Zimbabwe after the government signed a joint venture with New Reclamation Group Ltd.

“We are taking legal action against this company and treating any diamonds mined by them [from Marange] as stolen goods,” chief executive Andrew Cranswick said.
“Anyone trading in these diamonds will be dealing in stolen goods and will face criminal charges as well as financial losses,” he added.

ACR’s ownership of the title for the Marange deposit was upheld by Zimbabwe’s high court in September, but the government said it contested the decision and would make an appeal. “The High Court judgement required compliance despite a motion to appeal, and the orders are not being complied with by Zimbabwe Mining Development Corp,” Mr Cranswick said.

He added that ACR’s new legal challenge would be a test case for the Zimbabwe government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and respecting mining titles.