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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Marange, Chiadzwa and other diamond fields and the Kimberley Process - Index of articles
Zim
Blood Diamond Campaign endorses call for Zimbabwe suspension
Zimbabwe Blood Diamond Campaign (ZBDC)
August 12, 2009
The Zimbabwe Blood Diamonds
Campaign (ZBDC) today added its voice to the call for Zimbabwe's
suspension from the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS).
Last month, the KPCS in a report produced after an on-sight visit
to Zimbabwe recommended a six (6) month suspension of Zimbabwe from
the sale of rough diamonds until security, control and accountability
systems are put in place by the Zimbabwean government.
On the 9th of August,
the Finance Minister Tendai Biti admitted that control processes
were not effective when he observed that the looting of diamonds
in Chiadzwa was "an embarrassment and a mess". However,
Zimbabwe's Mines Minister Obert Mpofu has opposed a ban, arguing
that Zimbabwe's economy which needs about US$8.3 billion resuscitation
package will be adversely affected.
ZBDC Co-Coordinator
and human rights lawyer Gabriel Shumba dismisses this fear as unfounded,
since no evidence has been produced so show how the "Marange"
diamonds has contributed to the national fiscus. The call is not
for a permanent embargo, but a limited one that seeks to amongst
other things, the demilitarization of the diamond fields and an
end to human rights violations and the immediate halting of the
illegal trade.
Commenting on the KPCS
report, the Mr Gabriel Shumba observed "ZBDC is relieved that
its lobbying and advocacy efforts with the KPCS have paid off. In
particular we are encouraged by the fact that the KPCS was able
to confirm that rampant human rights violations are taking place
in Chiadzwa."
He went on to say: "We
can confirm that over 300 people have died and hundreds others maimed
by government security forces that are in the area allegedly to
stem illegal mining, but are in fact illegally extracting the diamonds
themselves. Women have been raped, and children maimed. There is
very little doubt that Chiadzwa diamonds are tainted with the blood
of Zimbabweans. ZBDC has incontestable proof of these violations".
Although President Robert
Mugabe denied army atrocities in Chiadzwa yesterday, the allegations
by the ZBDC were echoed by Wilfred Mhanda, a liberation war hero
with the Zimbabwe Liberators Platform. On Defence Forces Day yesterday,
Mr Mhanda accused the army of spearheading the campaign of violence
in Chiadzwa, Marange.
For more info call Gabriel
Shumba on +27 726393 795 or +27 12 6393 795.
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
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