Article
Govt. must force mining companies to account for plunder of Zimbabwe diamonds, says NGO
"CRD Press Statement on Closure of Diamond Operations", 24 Feb 2016
...Diamond mining operations in Marange have been a site of lack of transparency and accountability since commencement of mining operations in 2008. Opaque mining practices have deeply impoverished local communities...[G]overnment has decided to centralise its oversight in the exploitation of diamonds... The CRD is however concerned that government has...[not undertaken] due diligence processes that would have forced mining companies to account for economic plunder of Zimbabwe’s diamonds... The cessation of mining operations is an opportunity for government to give closure to perennial problems in the diamond sector by addressing the following:
- Immediate withdrawals of all military personnel in Marange diamond fields and strengthen police operations to maintain law and order...
- Immediate freezing of all company assets in the diamond fields and initiate due diligence processes. Companies must submit audited reports and government must have them published during this period.
- Government must investigate all diamond executives involved in Marange diamond mining and hold them to account for resource plunder and human rights violations.
- Institute a consultative forum for all stakeholders in which the legitimate submission of the forcibly removed and uncompensated peoples of Marange would be tabled and considered in the proposed new structures...