HARARE - Zimbabwe was this week urged to stick to its withdrawal of soldiers from the Marange diamond fields and comply in full with the worlds blood diamond monitoring group.At last weeks meeting of the Kimberley Process, an international body governing the diamond industry, the group discussed whether to suspend Zimbabwe from trading its diamonds on the world markets after a review mission, sent by the group itself, found credible indications of significant non-compliance with the groups minimum standards.
Key Western governments had also expressed serious concern about continuing rights abuses in the diamonds fields.
Zimbabwean Mines Minister Obert Mpofu pledged to work with the diamonds certification body to address the issue.
The Kimberley Process certification scheme (KPCS) reached consensus to immediately implement an intensive, on-the-ground inspection that would monitor and audit the export of diamonds from Marange.
The group also asked Zimbabwe to adhere to its work plan of a phased withdrawal of the military but without specific time lines, of directing police to provide security for the area, and of allowing a monitor, agreed to by both Zimbabwe and the KP, to examine and certify all shipments of diamonds from Marange.
The plan also gives Zimbabwe up to June next year to rectify alleged human rights abuses by the army against civilians in the Marange diamond fields.?
United States expects Zimbabwe to commit substantial effort and resources to the obligations of the work plan, said a statement from the US State Department. If the work plan is not thoroughly implemented, we expect the KP to suspend Zimbabwes status in the KP certification scheme.
Prior to the KP meeting, rights groups had called on the diamond industry and diamond consumers to boycott Marange diamonds until Zimbabwe ended all abuses and removes the military from the area.
As recently as last month, Human Rights Watch uncovered rampant abuses by the military in Marange including forced labour, child labour, killings, beatings, smuggling and corruption.
Israel and Canada at the KP meeting last week pushed unsuccessfully for suspension of Zimbabwe, while South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Russia supported Zimbabwe and called for technical assistance without suspension. The Russian delegation stated that at present there are no conflict diamonds in Zimbabwe.
Minister Mpofu said on Monday that Zimbabwe had scored a victory against detractors.
The most important thing is the African solidarity in the face of attempts by so-called NGOs, human rights activists and some European countries whose agenda was clearly to have us banned but that failed, he said.
Post published in: Economy