International monitor says Zimbabwe should be allowed to sell diamonds internationally again

Int’l monitor: Allow Zimbabwe to sell diamonds

JOHANNESBURG — A monitor for the body set up to halt the trade in rough diamonds that fuel conflicts believes Zimbabwe is “on track” to meet international diamond mining standards and should be allowed to resume selling diamonds in international markets, according to a report obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.

The body, Kimberley Process Certification, is expected to follow the advice of the monitor, Abbey Chikane. Kimberley Process investigators had previously recommended Zimbabwe’s suspension over their findings of illicit trading and human rights abuses.

Chikane said in his report that “the government of Zimbabwe has demonstrated its commitment to meet the minimum requirements of the KP,” regarding strengthening internal controls, curbing illegal digging and regulate alluvial mining. Chikane could not be reached on Wednesday.

A leading human rights group criticized Chikane’s recommendation, saying a decision to allow Zimbabwe to resume selling diamonds internationally should be postponed until abuses are stopped. Human Rights Watch’s senior researcher for Africa, Tiseke Kasambala, said Chikane’s advice was flawed because it ignored alleged human rights abuses in the diamond-rich Marring district.

Allegations of killings and rights violations by troops and smuggling of “blood diamonds” have been associated with the discovery of the extensive Marange deposits, in eastern Zimbabwe, four years ago.

Kasambala said Human Rights Watch was concerned about the silence surrounding the situation.

“We expected these countries to put more pressure on the Zimbabwe government to stop human rights violations. We strongly believe that these ‘blood diamonds’ should not be allowed to enter the international markets until the ongoing abuses ended,” Kasambala said.