(NEWZIMBABWE) Zimbabwe diamond ban unlikely
Zimbabwe diamond ban unlikelyOur reporter/sources
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:59:00 +0000
ZIMBABWE is unlikely to face censure over allegations of trading in "blood diamonds" as the individuals and groups who were giving evidence at an international summit have not been able to provide the evidence required.
This is despite the publication of various reports by human rights organisations alleging that the country has been trading in blood diamonds.
The member states of the Kimberley Process (KP) – the system set up to regulate the diamond trade – had been expected to use this week's meeting to impose an export ban on Zimbabwe after allegations of human rights abuses at its diamond fields.
That ban seems unlikely as key witnesses have failed to provide information to KP.
Last week, illegal diamond dealer and businessman Newman Chiadzwa, who has been posing as Chief Chiadzwa, said he had lied to the KP when they visited Zimbabwe earlier this year.
Newman's family, Government and police have accused him of supplying false information to the media on goings-on at the Chiadzwa diamond fields with a view to getting Zimbabwe banned from trading in the precious stone so that illegal mining activities -- from which he stood to benefit -- would resurface in the area.
He is also accused of writing a damning letter to the Kimberley Certification Process claiming State security agents are harassing people interviewed by the review team when they were in the country recently.
The Zimbabwean Government argues that since Chiadzwa has admitted that he lied to benefit from the ban, his story was no longer credible and his evidence not permissible.
Human rights campaigners, including watchdog Amnesty International have issued damning reports alleging human rights abuses in the Marange district where they say more than 200 people died last year and say there are mass graves where these people are buried.
Another key witness to the ongoing investigation has not been able to convince the KP of the existence of blood diamonds since the summit started, according to reports from Government officials in Namibia.
Farai Maguwu, a campaigner from the mining district who travelled to the Windhoek summit to give "evidence" to KP.
He runs the Centre for Research and Development in Mutare. Maguwu alleges that since leaving the country he has been followed and threatened by senior Government officials.
"My presence here didn't go down too well with them and they've had me followed," he told The Independent (UK) newspaper by telephone from the summit.
"Even now when I'm speaking they are pushing closer to try and hear what I'm saying."
Maguwu says his organisation has been compiling "evidence" of wrongdoing in the Marange district where alluvial diamond deposits were found there three years ago.
He appeared in an SABC documentary released prior to the summit alleging human rights abuses in Marange.
The diamond fields were nationalised last year. A British company, African Consolidated Resources, was running the fields before the Government takeover.
Earlier this year President Mugabe said Anglo-American had been mining diamonds in that area for 15 years without the knowledge of Government, and all the diamonds were secretly exported out of the country.
"The Anglo-American Corporation did a lot of prospecting but never told us there were diamonds there," said President Mugabe.
"From what we hear Anglo was doing some tests year-in year-out and getting diamonds out of the country" without the knowledge of the government, he added.
Maguwu says Government was barring him from giving evidence to the KP.
"There are strong people making money out of diamonds and they want to silence me," said Maguwu.
The researcher said he was summoned to a meeting with Zimbabwe's ambassador to Namibia on Monday where he says he faced "hysterical accusations".
A Government official who spoke to the Zimbabwe Guardian on Tuesday says Maguwu failed to present crdible evidence of human rights abuses and the KP seems not convinced that the allegations are true.
The Kimberley safeguards agreed in 2003 helped to restore consumer confidence in precious gems.
Kimberley members agreed to send a mission to Zimbabwe last year after alleged reports of abuses in the Marange fields.
The delegation interviewed Newman Chiadzwa and others who alleged that there were mass graves and gross violations of human rights in the area.
He has since withdrawn his allegations in a letter to President Mugabe and the inclusive Government of Zimbabwe.
The summit ends tomorrow and KP is expected to issue a statement on Zimbabwe.
Last night Zimbabwe was referred to an oversight committee, the last step before any action would be taken.
"It's been a small victory as at least there will now be a discussion," a source close to the talks told The Independent. "But the likelihood remains that no action will be taken."
A Kimberley Process working group recommended earlier this year that Zimbabwe voluntarily withdraw from the system. Harare's representatives to the summit, including Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu, argued against the recommendation yesterday saying Zimbabwe had fully complied with KP recommendations.
The Government of Zimbabwe argues that the KP should be an independent organisation that should withstand the pressure of "self-seeking organisations" and that it is not in itself a human rights organisation.
Labels: DIAMONDS, KIMBERLEY PROCESS, NEWMAN CHIADZWA
posted by MrK @ 4:23 PM
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