Zim faces more suspension threats over diamond abuses

Zimbabwe last month rejected a British diamond expert, proposed by the European Union, as the first monitor to oversee the export of diamonds from the country for the next six months. A monitor forms part of the action-plan drafted by the Kimberley Process and Zimbabwes Mines Ministry officials, to bring the country in line with international diamond trade standards. But Zimbabwe has unilaterally adopted a monitor from Namibia instead, which has prompted the warning from the World Diamond Council.

In a statement the diamond council said there needs to be a credible, independent monitor to oversee mining operations and exports from the Chiadzwa diamond field. It added that no diamond exports can be made until such a monitor is in place, saying this would be in direct contravention of the Kimberley Process.

The Kimberley Process action-plan was adopted instead of suspending Zimbabwe from any international trade, in a move that has prompted an angry response from rights groups and diamond retailers across the world. A full suspension has been actively campaigned for, because of rampant human rights abuses, including murder, rape and forced labour at the Chiadzwa diamond fields. Evidence of the abuses has been widespread and even a delegation from the Kimberley Process itself recommended the countrys suspension as a result of the testimonies it heard. But the international watchdog, established in 2003 to curb the trade in conflict diamonds, has managed to hide behind its flawed definition of a blood diamond. It argued that stones mined from Chiadzwa are not blood diamonds, because the stones are not funding a conflict in Zimbabwe.

The need for a neutral monitor in the country became evident earlier this month when an auction of diamonds from the controversial Chiadzwa fields was organised to take place in Harare. The auction was organised by the state-authorised company currently mining the Chiadzwa claim, although legally the claim belongs to a UK mining firm. The sale was only stopped at the last minute because reports say that neither the Zimbabwe government nor the Kimberley Process authorities were properly informed.

Its understood that the auction will now go ahead next week, despite the mass outrage expressed by diamond retailers and human rights groups. Last year, Human Rights Watch (HRW) made a written appeal directly to top retailers, urging them to shun Zimbabwes gems. The group warned that diamonds from Zimbabwe were being produced through the use of forced labour of adults and children, killings, and severe beatings.

By any reasonable assessment, diamonds from Chiadzwa are blood diamonds and we are publicly calling upon retailers and interested consumers to boycott Zimbabwe diamonds unless and until the abuses that we uncovered come to an end, HRW said.

At the same time, international diamond traders, the Rapaport Group, has also called for a ban on the diamonds, stating that blood diamonds from Zimbabwe may already have been illegally exported and may even be reaching retailers. The boycott appeal has also since been picked up by Ingle & Rhode, the UKs principal retailer of ethical jewellery and engagement rings that are produced using conflict-free diamonds.

Continuing to allow exports of Zimbabwean diamonds would make a mockery of the Kimberley Process that is meant to avoid just such practices from occurring, the company said in a press statement.

Gabriel Shumba, the co-coordinator of the Zimbabwe Blood Diamonds Campaign, told SW Radio Africa that the planned auction is a glaring indication that the Kimberley Process has failed Zimbabwe, and its own mandate. He echoed calls for the Kimberley Process to drastically reform, arguing what more proof of blood do they need to intervene when hundreds of people are dead, women are being raped, and many are being tortured.