Zimbabwean Diamond Faces Ban Over Human Rights Abuse

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By Adebayo Somuyiwa

Published: November 2, 2009

 

 

Zimbabwean Diamond Faces Ban Over Humn Rights Abuse

By Adebayo Somuyiwa

Zimbabwe faces having its diamonds suspended from international trading because of alleged human rights abuses by government security forces in the country’s diamond fields. Members of the Kimberly Process – the international body that regulates trade in rough diamonds – begin a four-day meeting today in Namibia where they will consider whether to suspend the country for at least six months. Activist groups including Human Rights Watch have accused the Zimbabwean army of abusing miners and local residents in the Marange diamond fields, where at least 200 people are believed to have been killed. Government soldiers have occupied the Marange diamond fields since late 2008. Rights activists claim President Robert Mugabe’s party, Zanu-PF, is taking all the profit from the mines. The government has denied all accusations.

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