The global diamond certification body on Friday ordered a ban on trade in diamonds from eastern Zimbabwe over concerns about human rights violations.President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, Avi Paz said thedecision to ban the Zimbabwe diamonds follows reports of violations ofthe Kimberly Process – a system meant to prevent trade in conflictdiamonds
The ban affects only the Marange deposits in eastern Zimbabwe, wherelocal media have reported of forced evictions of small-scale miners.
"The WFDB and its membership worldwide are committed to do all it canto prevent conflict diamonds from Zimbabwe or from any other source forthat matter to be traded by our members," Paz said in a statement.
The group only allows its member bourses to trade in diamonds that areaccompanied by a Kimberly Process certificate, meant to guarantee thatthe gems are not fuelling conflicts.
"Any bourse member who trades in rough diamonds without KPcertification is liable for expulsion from his bourse, which in allpractical terms means the exclusion from the entire diamond businesscommunity," Paz said.
Government officials made no immediate reaction as they are attending a weekend retreat in the resort town of Victoria Falls.
Last year, Zimbabwean authorities sealed off an eastern mining area,where the state-run Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation is nowextracting up to 60 000 carats per week, according to official figures.
IOL/Sapa/Agence France Presse (AFP)
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