Rights group: Mugabe to use diamonds for violent campaign (Feature)

By Jan Raath Jun 13, 2010, 23:19 GMT

Harare - Attempts by President Robert Mugabe and his top aides to wrest control of controversial diamond fields in eastern Zimbabwe could have serious consequences for the peace and stability of the country, a report by a leading human rights group said Monday.

It claimed that Mugabe and his military elite were trying to secure the Chiadzwa diamond fields through abusive military operations and suspect deal-making, to finance renewed campaigns of violence against their opponents if the current power-sharing arrangement - between Mugabe and pro-democracy Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai - ceases to serve their interests.

The report was by Global Witness, a member of the Kimberley Process (KP) Certification Scheme founded in 2000 to close down trade in conflict diamonds used to fund civil wars in Africa.

Mugabe's government drew international condemnation in late 2008 for its brutal military campaign to drive off 35,000 illegal diggers who had flocked to Chiadzwa for easy pickings when the country's economy crashed.

Human rights organizations said more than 200 people had been killed and thousands more tortured, assaulted and raped. They were also forced to dig for diamonds for the military, who then smuggled the rough stones out of the country.

In 2009, KP suspended Zimbabwe and was banned from selling Chiadzwa diamonds. But the organization gave the bankrupt government a chance to export its diamonds again, on condition that it withdrew the military, established law and order in the area and set up professional mining operations under a transparent administration.

However, the Global Witness report claims that six months on, the military presence remains in 97 per cent of the fields, diamonds continue to be smuggled into neighbouring countries and Zimbabwe has breached the agreement by exporting shipments of diamonds to the United Arab Emirates.

The government has also allegedly granted mining concessions to two little-known South African companies in joint-venture agreements with the state-owned mining corporation, but no tenders had been called for.

Due diligence examinations of the South African companies had been held after Mines Minister Obert Mpofu approved them, and reportedly handpicked board members who included a relative, his personal assistant and a former air vice marshal of the Zimbabwe Air Force.

The questionable manner in which these deals were conducted leaves the door open for state looting and corruption, Global Witness said.

Its study follows a report last week by South African businessman Abbey Chikane, who was appointed in April to monitor how Zimbabwe was following through on the undertakings it made to the KP to restore order to the diamond field.

Chikane's recommendation that Zimbabwe should immediately be allowed to export gems from the troubled area, since it had met the minimum criteria, prompted widespread shock and anger.

Lifting the ban on Chiadzwa exports would mean letting blood diamonds on to international markets, said Global Witness spokesperson Elly Harrowell.

The Kimberley Process meets in Israel on June 21 where it is due to consider Chikane's recommendation. Observers point out that with strong objections from the human rights organizations that make up a third of the body, it is unlikely to be passed.

On Sunday, Mpofu said, 'We have met the criteria and what is now left is to start exporting the diamonds.'

The South African's week-long visit was clouded in controversy, as he reported that he had been followed wherever he went by Mugabe's secret police, who also allegedly rifled his briefcase and gave copies of confidential emails to state media.

He admitted to informing authorities that human rights activist Farayi Maguwu - who helped expose the atrocities in 2008 - had given him a classified military document that confirmed there were many cases of indiscipline among soldiers on the diamond field, who were still engaged in smuggling and violence.

Maguwu was arrested the day Chikane left the country on charges of publishing falsehoods prejudicial to national security.