Key issues ignored at Vic Falls Diamond Conference

Posted by on Monday, November 12, 2012 in Diamonds, Zimbabwe politics | 3 comments
Zimbabwe Diamond Conference

Zimbabwe Diamond Conference

By Tererai Karimakwenda
12 November, 2012

The Zimbabwe Diamond Conference began in Victoria Falls on Monday with top politicians and diamond industry figures making speeches that praised Zimbabwe’s efforts.

Local activists are attending the conference under the banner of the KP Civil Society Coalition (CSC). KP stands for the Kimberley Process, an international grouping of diamond producers whose aim is to stamp out blood diamonds.
One activist spoke to SW Radio Africa and said there is a discrepancy between what the politicians are saying and what happens on the ground in Zimbabwe.

Shamiso Mtisi, from Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA), told SW Radio Africa that the morning session was dominated by speeches from Robert Mugabe, Mines Minister Obert Mpofu and former South African President Thabo Mbeki.

Mpofu said he had invited Thabo Mbeki because of his international reputation as a mediator in Syria and because of his role in initiating the talks that led to creation of Zimbabwe’s unity government.

However, critics dismissed the invitation as an attempt to legitimise the chaotic situation in Chiadzwa and lend credibility to a ZANU PF elite who are depriving the country of much needed revenue by siphoning off the diamond funds

According to Mtisi, the politicians and diamond industry officials all touched on issues to do with accountability and transparency, praising the country for improvements. But key issues that affect Zimbabweans and local communities were ignored.

Mtisi said the CSC representatives wanted issues like environmental pollution and the massive theft of diamonds to be discussed. They also want local communities to benefit from diamond mining, not just the government elite who manage it.

The conference is being hosted by Mines Minister Obert Mpofu who has been quoted as saying he wanted to show that Zimbabwe “stands ready to give the world full transparency on its achievements as a major diamond producer.”

But the event takes place against the backdrop of a report released Monday by Partnership Africa Canada, which shows that diamond proceeds continue to enrich only a few people, including Minister Mpofu himself and top military and ZANU PF chefs.

The report says hundreds of millions of dollars have gone missing this year alone and billions have been diverted since 2008. Finance Minister Tendai Biti says only $46 million was submitted to the treasury this year, when $600 million was expected.

Also attending are Kimberly Process chair¬person Gillian Milovanovic and the KP monitor for Zimbabwe, Abbey Chikane. Earlier this month Chikane was criticised for suggesting that “all diamond mines in Zimbabwe have reached international standards and stand as a model for many diamond-producing countries.”

This was dismissed as ‘misleading’ by Global Witness campaigner Mike Davis, who explained that Chikane’s comments reflect the KP’s limited mandate. Davis said the KP’s focus on technical issues ignores the political ramifications of the Zim scenario, where diamond funds are said to be funding the Mugabe regime ahead of the elections due next year.

Davis said Global Witness was not taking part in the conference because they did not expect much to be resolved, in terms of the key issues that need addressing in Chiadzwa.

The Vic falls diamond conference continues on Tuesday.

Read report

  • Anonymous

    Kana pfuma yakadai yoenda kuna Mpofu oga ko vana vose veZimbabwe vorarama sei nhai veduweeee? Asi vakuru vanoti hapana chisingagumi, muchero wose une masvisvinwa, kana chingoma choririsa choda kuparuka, rina manyanga hiriputirwi mumushunje rino tukudza,chimwe nechimwe chine magumo acho, pfuma yokupamba inouraisa.

  • wilbert_mukori

    It is really tragic that when it comes to issues affecting the ordinary Zimbabweans it is outsiders like Mike Davis who are in touch and not our own political leaders.

    People like Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara love giving their long speeches full of sound and fury signifying nothing. A few weeks ago they dominated the Second All Stakeholders Conference on the constitution – “the caucus rat race” as Zimvigil aptly called. Now they are in Vic Falls! What a waste of time and taxpayers’ money. The nation will be foolish to trust this lot to produce a democratic constitution; that remains the biggest challenge the nation faces today.

  • Mutongi Gava

    A non event as there was a lot of political posturing and propaganda meant to hide and sweep under the carpet the really events on the ground at Chiadzwa as every politician who spoke is a beneficiary to the rampant looting of diamonds. Why did we not hear of the statistics of all those massacred by the uniformed forces’ brutality, damage to the environment, money not reaching treasury at the expense of the poorly paid civil servants and a whole lot of other aspects to demonstrate that this was a conference meant to clear a lot of controversies and mysteries behind our diamonds.