The Kimberley Process against ”blood diamonds” wants to ban Zimbabwe from trading in the gems until the country address concerns over abuses in its diamond fields, state media said on Thursday.
”An interim report by the Kimberley Process team has recommended Zimbabwe to stop diamond trade within the KPCS until the country meets minimum standards,” the Herald newspaper said.
Early this month, a Kimberley Process (KP) team visited Zimbabwe to investigate allegations of human rights abuses in Marange diamond fields.
The team’s report recommends ”initiation of procedure to implement the suspension of Zimbabwe from importing or exporting rough diamonds within the KPCS, for a period of at least six months,” according to the Herald.
In a public report, the global diamond mining watchdog accused the Zimbabwe army of illegal mining in the Marange diamond fields, where civilians are subjected to ”horrific” violence.
According to a Human Rights Watch report, about 200 people were last year killed by the Zimbabwe’s army in a takeover of the Marange fields in eastern Zimbabwe.
The reports documents cases of forced labour, torture and beatings by the military.
Zimbabwe has two other diamond mines, Murowa and River Ranch, which are Kimberley certified and are not involved in the claims of abuse.
The Kimberley Process was launched in 2003 to curb the flow of conflict diamonds into the mainstream market following wars in countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone. — AFP
