Opinion / Columnist
Marange diamonds torture exposure vindicates civil society
08 Aug 2011 at 15:31hrs | Views
Attempts to cover-up human rights abuses in Marange diamond fields have dismally failed after the BBC Panorama programme found that a torture camp run by Zimbabwean soldiers is operating in the area (BBC.co.uk, Marange diamond field: Zimbabwe torture camp discovered, 08/08/11).
The discovery will definitely cause deep embarrassment throughout the world encompassing the European Union, the Kimberley Process, South Africa and of course Zimbabwe where the regime is desperately trying to launder the 'blood diamonds' cash by 'bribing' civil servants possibly in exchange for votes in the next election.
Those who have been politicising human rights abuses and campaigning for the lifting of the Chiadzwa gems embargo must be feeling terrible and ashamed of themselves now that the torture has been finally exposed.
Some politicians had adopted the 'see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil' approach to the controversial Marange diamonds for sheer political expediency. Others, driven by unethical business opportunism resorted to demonising civil society activists in Marange for calling for the demilitarisation of the diamond fields and increased transparency before the lifting of the gems embargo.
However, Farai Maguwu, Director of the Centre for Research and Development (CRD) maintained that there were ongoing abuses and was arrested and 'tortured' by the regime in an effort to suppress revelations of human rights violations at Chiadzwa.
It would be interesting to know on what basis the EU was about to let some banned diamonds onto world markets. Equally, the KP cannot shrug off responsibility after South Africa's Abbey Chikane controversially approved the sale of the blood diamonds followed by Chairman Yamba's decision to declare them 'conflict free'.
According to Global Witness a member of the KP Civil Society Coalition, exports of rough diamonds from Marange are dependent on key commitments made in the Joint Work Plan and a follow-up agreement reached in St Petersburg in July 2010 namely:
- Endorsement and respect of the local civil society monitoring mechanism established by the St Petersburg agreement. It is through this mechanism that Zimbabwean NGOs report to the KP on conditions in Marange;
- Measures agreed by Zimbabwe and the Kimberley Process to remove the military from Marange and put in place system of law enforcement by civilian authorities;
- Steps to tackle illegal mining and cross border trafficking of diamonds, including the establishment of regulations that allow for small scale mining of diamonds" (Global Witness.org, Conflict diamond scheme must resolve Zimbabwe impasse, 05/11/10).
Incredibly, the Government of National Unity (GNU) has not found it right and proper to order a public enquiry into the massacre of about 241 miners at Marange diamond fields, instead embarked on a vigorous campaign to have the blood diamonds certified as conflict free. The torture camps are a practical example of the culture of impunity that has paralysed the GNU by replacing the rule of law.
Civil society's outcry has been vindicated as well founded in the face of the regime's vicious propaganda campaign at home and abroad under the guise of a pan-Africanist fight against colonialism. It is hoped that the GNU will finally probe the diamond massacres and torture camps and that a New Diamond Act will restore order.
Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, Political Analyst, London, zimanalysis2009@gmail.com
The discovery will definitely cause deep embarrassment throughout the world encompassing the European Union, the Kimberley Process, South Africa and of course Zimbabwe where the regime is desperately trying to launder the 'blood diamonds' cash by 'bribing' civil servants possibly in exchange for votes in the next election.
Those who have been politicising human rights abuses and campaigning for the lifting of the Chiadzwa gems embargo must be feeling terrible and ashamed of themselves now that the torture has been finally exposed.
Some politicians had adopted the 'see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil' approach to the controversial Marange diamonds for sheer political expediency. Others, driven by unethical business opportunism resorted to demonising civil society activists in Marange for calling for the demilitarisation of the diamond fields and increased transparency before the lifting of the gems embargo.
However, Farai Maguwu, Director of the Centre for Research and Development (CRD) maintained that there were ongoing abuses and was arrested and 'tortured' by the regime in an effort to suppress revelations of human rights violations at Chiadzwa.
It would be interesting to know on what basis the EU was about to let some banned diamonds onto world markets. Equally, the KP cannot shrug off responsibility after South Africa's Abbey Chikane controversially approved the sale of the blood diamonds followed by Chairman Yamba's decision to declare them 'conflict free'.
- Endorsement and respect of the local civil society monitoring mechanism established by the St Petersburg agreement. It is through this mechanism that Zimbabwean NGOs report to the KP on conditions in Marange;
- Measures agreed by Zimbabwe and the Kimberley Process to remove the military from Marange and put in place system of law enforcement by civilian authorities;
- Steps to tackle illegal mining and cross border trafficking of diamonds, including the establishment of regulations that allow for small scale mining of diamonds" (Global Witness.org, Conflict diamond scheme must resolve Zimbabwe impasse, 05/11/10).
Incredibly, the Government of National Unity (GNU) has not found it right and proper to order a public enquiry into the massacre of about 241 miners at Marange diamond fields, instead embarked on a vigorous campaign to have the blood diamonds certified as conflict free. The torture camps are a practical example of the culture of impunity that has paralysed the GNU by replacing the rule of law.
Civil society's outcry has been vindicated as well founded in the face of the regime's vicious propaganda campaign at home and abroad under the guise of a pan-Africanist fight against colonialism. It is hoped that the GNU will finally probe the diamond massacres and torture camps and that a New Diamond Act will restore order.
Clifford Chitupa Mashiri, Political Analyst, London, zimanalysis2009@gmail.com
Source - Clifford Chitupa Mashiri
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