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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
Call
for the immediate release of Farai Maguwu
Southern African Resource Watch (SARW)
June 07, 2010
The Southern
Africa Resource Watch (SARW) condemns the arrest and persecution
of Human rights and economic justice activists in Zimbabwe.
SARW calls on the government
of Zimbabwe to immediately release human rights defender, Farai
Maguwu and refrain from any further arrests.
Farai Maguwu,
director of the Mutare-based Centre
for Research and Development (CRD) is a prominent economic justice
activist fighting to protect the rights of people of Marange whose
rights are being violated through illegal extraction and trade in
diamonds. His arrest followed the meeting he held on 25 May2010
with Kimberley Process Monitor for Zimbabwe, Abbey Chikane, to discuss
human rights abuses and the rampant smuggling of Marange diamonds.
While we appreciate
efforts by all parties to make the Global
Political Agreement work, it will be appropriate for the Zimbabwe
government to show its seriousness about transformation by releasing
Mr. Maguwu. The detention of Maguwu since the 3 June is contrary
to the spirit of a new democratic Zimbabwe that we all want to build.
The illegal trade of
diamonds in Marange is accompanied by serious human rights violations.
The unregulated diamond trade is a threat to the economic interests
of Zimbabwe, and in turn to the wellbeing of the people of Zimbabwe.
The work being done by
Mr. Maguwu and others is therefore important in ensuring that there
is transparency and accountability in the extraction and commercialization
of minerals in Zimbabwe.
A better-coordinated
diamond industry will contribute immensely to a quick recovery of
the Zimbabwean economy. Mr. Maguwu's arrest therefore is not
in the interest of the country and its citizens.
SARW calls on
the government to release Mr. Maguwu and to institute a commission
of enquiry into illegal diamond trade, mining related violence,
and human rights abuses in Marange.
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