RSS 2.0 FeedSeptember 2009 Vol 12, Mining and Industry Indaba
Zimbabwe escapes diamonds trade ban
The Kimberley Process, the body charged with halting the trade in blood diamonds, was criticised yesterday for failing to add Zimbabwean gems to its proscribed list.
The Kimberley Process, the body charged with halting the trade in blood diamonds, was criticised yesterday for failing to add Zimbabwean gems to its proscribed list.
At a meeting in Namibia the diamond producers, governments and human rights groups that make up the process agreed instead on an “action plan” to monitor stones from the Marange field in eastern Zimbabwe.
The move came despite a confidential report from the Kimberley Process investigators which called for Zimbabwe’s suspension, claiming that the Zimbabwean army “coordinated and conducted an illegal mining and smuggling operation”, and that its soldiers had murdered, raped and tortured, to force illegal diggers there to excavate stones for them.
The report said that Mr Mugabe’s officials were aware of the “extreme violence” and smuggling and had lied to investigators about the situation.
