Diamond Trade in Zimbabwe finally put on hold?

The Review Mission of the Kimberley Process (KP) which visited Zimbabwe in June, has recommended to suspend Zimbabwe from the KP and stop Zimbabwean diamonds entering the world market. Civil society organisations, including Fatal Transactions, have been calling for suspension of Zimbabwe since December last year when severe human rights abuses and killings were reported at the diamond mines in Chiadzwa. The main perpetrators of this violence being the Zimbabwean army and police forces themselves.

The Kimberley Process is designed to stop the trade in conflict diamonds through a certification system. This only allows rough diamonds to enter the international market which are not linked to violent conflict and sever human rights abuses. Despite reports in the media and from NGOs showing clear evidence that the Zimbabwean government completely lost control of its diamond trade, the KP showed little teeth so far. But this has changed. That the call for suspension is the only way to truly hold the Zimbabwean authorities to account, was sadly proven again last week. The Zimbabwean Chief Newman Chiadzwa was threatened and his home was raided by the Zimbabwean security forces because he co-operated with the KP Review team by telling them what actually happened in the diamond areas where he is based. The Review’s Team plea for a suspension of Zimbabwe for at least 6 months is nothing more than a logic step to take by the KP governments.

For more information on the Kimberley Process in general please visit the Kimberley Process Web Dossier.

For the latest report on Zimbabwe from Human Rights Watch ‘Diamonds in the Rough (June 09), please click here >>