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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
KPCS
visit to Zimbabwe
Center
for Research and Development (CRD)
August
24, 2009
A scandalous
KPCS team headed by its Chairperson, Namibian Mines Minister Bernard
Esau visited Zimbabwe last week for what appeared to be a mission
to obliterate a report compiled by a wide KPCS fact finding mission
to Zimbabwe in July
2009. The CRD issued an alert on August 19, 2009, raising alarm
that the 5th brigade is carrying out a clean up operation aimed
at driving out panners from the diamond fields ahead of a visit
by as yet unknown senior government officials. Before the end of
the week it became apparent the clean up operation was in preparation
of the KP visit.
The fact finding mission
led by the Namibian Mines Minister who currently serves as Chairperson
of the KPCS rotating secretariat did not meet the minimum standards
of a professional fact finding mission. The mission was political
as the team chose to meet with government officials only and spent
much of their time giving press statements that were not founded
on facts obtaining on the ground. A professional fact finding mission
should have met with major stakeholders who include responsible
government ministries, civil society organizations, diplomatic community
and ordinary residence living close to the diamond fields. However,
sticking to the proverbial 'hear no evil, see no evil and
say no evil' Mr Esau deliberately chose to avoid meeting with
people and organizations that would have made it difficult for him
to make his pre-planned political statements during and after his
tour. Mr Esau also refused to pick up calls from journalist he had
promised to cooperate with whilst in Mutare.
It should be made clear
that Zimbabwe has done little if anything, to comply with recommendations
made by the visiting KPCS in July. The Kwekwe based 5th brigade
is still manning the diamond fields whilst panning by soldiers has
reached alarming proportions. Hundreds of panners who had left the
diamonds fields at the height of gross human rights abuses have
returned to work in syndicates with the soldiers. Soldiers are still
brutally assaulting anyone caught wondering in the diamond fields
without military escort. Hundreds of international buyers have descended
on the Manica town of Mozambique to buy Chiadzwa diamonds. Senior
officials in the Ministry of Mines are also reportedly looting diamonds
from Chaidzwa. With proper management and enough security measures,
Chiadzwa diamond fields can solve a fraction of Zimbabwe's
economic woes. It is therefore cataclysmic for the KPCS chair to
give Zimbabwe a near clean bill of health when diamonds are being
looted by senior politicians and unlicensed panners whilst the rest
of the population is forced to feed on slogans and tired nationalism.
The CRD calls on civil
society in Zimbabwe to apply pressure on the KPCS to send a genuine
fact finding mission to Zimbabwe that will meet with all stakeholders
and make an informed decision.
Visit the Center
for Research and Development (CRD) fact
sheet
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