HARARE - The World Diamond Council (WDC) has expressed concern over the government's ability to 'harness the country's natural resources for the benefit' of Zimbabweans, two weeks after the country escaped a ban from diamond trade. The Kimberley Process, a global body created to curb trade in gems mined to fund conflict, decided not to suspend Zimbabwe’s membership, saying it supported the nation’s attempts to work towards compliance with the group’s requirements.
But the WDC chairman, Eli Izhakoff, in a statement said: “The ability of Zimbabwe to harness its natural resources, including diamonds, for the benefit of its people is our primary concern.”
Human rights groups lobbied for a suspension of Zimbabwe from diamond trade saying the precious minerals is being used to enrich President Robert Mugabe’s allies and to fund a crackdown on innocent civilians.
Several international human rights organisations, Global Witness among them, have collected data over the last two years of informal miners killed by Zimbabwe security forces. “This is a challenging situation,” Izhakoff noted again, adding that the entire diamond industry, along with the rest of the world, will be watching closely.
Post published in: Economy