By Moses Mudzwiti

Zimabawe's turbulent unity government might have its last hope for economic recovery dashed when Kimberley Process members meet in Tel Aviv, Israel today, to decide on the status of the country's diamonds.

International NGOs, such as Global Witness and Partnership Africa Canada, have been lobbying members to declare Zimbabwe's precious stones "blood diamonds".

Campaigners have had their cause strengthened by Zimbabwe's jailing of the only witness to come forward with damning evidence.

Centre for Research and Development director Farai Maguwu was arrested after he provided Kimberley Process diamond monitor Abbey Chikane with documents that point to continued abuses at Zimbabwe's Chiadzwa diamond fields.

In Harare today, high court judge Chinembiri Bhunu is expected to rule on an appeal by Maguwu against the refusal of his application for bail on June 10.

Maguwu was expected to make a presentation in Tel Aviv, but his continued detention has prevented him from attending.

''Farai Maguwu's arrest, and continued detention is a blatant attempt by the Zimbabwean authorities to silence any dissent from the diamond fields," said Elly Harrowell, a Global Witness campaigner.

Partnership Africa Canada, which has been involved in efforts to halt the trade in conflict diamonds since 1999, has asked members of the Kimberley Process to suspend Chikane as a diamond monitor.

Chikane and Zimbabwe's government insist that enough has been done towards meeting Kimberley Process recommendations for diamond trading to be resumed.

But legal trading will be permitted only if the members of the Kimberley Process give the country the green light.

Maguwu and rights groups are outraged, saying the soldiers accused of abuses remain in control of the vast mining area. Activists also claim that the Kimberley Process has been ''undermined" by the lack of action taken.

A Partnership Africa Canada statement issued on Friday read: ''Suspend Zimbabwe from the Kimberley Process until there is evidence that human rights abuses in the diamond fields have ceased, and Zimbabwe is complying fully with Kimberley Process minimum requirements."

Alfred Brownell of Green Advocates, Liberia, added his voice to the protests: ''Zimbabwe has been breaking all the rules and shouldn't be allowed to ship blood diamonds onto international markets.

"Kimberley Process governments' failure to address the crisis in Marange is a betrayal, not only of the victims of abuse, but of the scheme's founding principles."

Print      Send to a friend