Group Claims Marange Was Not Demilitarized

Posted in News by Admin on November 27th, 2009

Zimbabwe is under heavy pressure from the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme to put the Marange diamond fields under the control of private partners, and pull military units out of the area. However an institute in Mutare, Zimbabwe, has challenged a recent statement by mines minister Obert Mpofu saying the military is pulling out of the Marange in Manicaland province, the scene of alleged grave human rights violations.

The Center for Research and Development in Mutare carried out its own investigation and found the military is not pulling out of the rich Chiadzwa alluvial diamond field. Harare has named several private partners, but companies including the Rapaport Group have said they will ban Marange diamonds. And South Africa’s Old Mutual said it is reviewing a share stake in New Reclamation Group, which is among the companies Harare has invited into Marange.

Rights groups say more than 200 people have been slain in the Marange field by soldiers and police. A Kimberly Process team that visited the area concluded there were serious violations of human rights and extensive illegal trade in diamonds.

Center director Farai Maguwu told VOA Studio 7 reporter Jonga Kandemiiri that soldiers have only left the claims being worked by Mbada Diamonds and Canadiles Investments, two Harare partners of New Reclamation.