RAPAPORT... Zimbabwe appealed a Harare High Court ruling that confirmed that African Consolidated Resources (ACR) held the rights to the Marange diamond field, according to a source familiar with the case. ACR was preparing to resume operations this week, but company officials were denied access to the property.  

"Notwithstanding the statement of the attorney general [to appeal the ruling], the company is in discussions with government concerning a joint venture on  the Marange diamond field, which will benefit both the company and the people of Zimbabwe," according to an official statement from ACR.

The government seized ACR's claims in October 2006 and opened up the Marange to locals — provided that diamonds found were sold through the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ). However, the move plunged the Marange into chaos in a free-for-all diamond hunt, which eventually led to charges by the World Diamond Council (WDC) that Marange stones were making their way outside of the country illegally later that year.

ACR sued to regain development rights in 2006 and on September 24, 2009, High Court Justice Charles Hungwe ruled in favor of the miner. The judge ordered the government to restore ACR's right to develop mines in Marange and ruled that the MMCZ must return the diamonds and compensate the miner for its losses.