Gem miner reveals alleged human rights abuses in Africa

Gemfields' Kagem opencast emerald mine in Zambia. 
Gemfields' Kagem opencast emerald mine in Zambia. The firm has taken the unusual step of disclosing a law suit in bid for greater transparency Credit: Matthew Hill/Bloomberg

The chief executive of Britain’s leading gemstone company has disclosed his firm faces 29 allegations of human rights abuses at their Mozambique mine.

As part of Gemfields’ philosophy of “total transparency”, Sean Gilbertsontold The Sunday Telegraph that it was vital to demonstrate to consumers they are a responsible mining company.

The alleged abuses are said to have occurred at the company’s Montepuez mine, a 210 square-mile concession that is the world’s most lucrative ruby site. It is alleged that Mozambique ­police and security forces requested to evict illegal miners were responsible for deaths, beatings, theft and land confiscation. The claim seeks to hold Gemfields liable for police actions as it called officers on to the mine.

The case has been brought by the controversial human rights law firm Leigh Day who have filed a claim at the High Court. Thousands of illegal miners are attracted to Montepuez by gems that lie just 3ft below the surface.

Gemfields ambassador, Mila Kunis 
Mila Kunis was a brand ambassador for Gemfields 

Since it began mining the site, Gemfields, which owns the Fabergé brand, has paid £73m in taxes and royalties to the government, making it the biggest foreign currency contributor in northern Mozambique. 

A total of eight ruby auctions have so far generated £280m. Mr Gilbertson argues that without a legitimate and trusted company operating the mine, the country’s mineral wealth would have evaporated through illegal mining by foreign gangs. 

He said: “I genuinely do believe the country would have been looted.”

Asked why he took the unusual decision to disclose the law suit, the South African-educated CEO said: “We don’t want this process to run behind closed doors. We are not afraid of having these issues laid on the table. We take our ­responsibilities very seriously and if things have gone wrong under our watch, we are here to listen and deal with them.”

Gemfields has invested £1.1m in the local area building four schools and providing a mobile medical clinic that treats 4,500 people a month.

The company has built up its reputation from its management style at a ­major emerald mine in Zambia. 

“We see ourselves as the trusted partners for governments that wish to see their natural resources properly ­extracted serving all key stakeholders, including the government, the community and obviously our shareholders,” Mr Gilbertson said, speaking at the company’s Mayfair office.

“We took the decision very early on that the future of the industry would be built on transparency. The more the consumer understands the more they are going to trust the product.”

Gemfields has now introduced ground-breaking nano technology that will give customers the precise location and date for where their gemstones have been mined. Gemfields lawyers are now expected to meet with Leigh Day – who have yet to serve ­papers – in the coming weeks.

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