Conflict Diamonds in Zimbabwe
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Bloody Business: Conflict Diamonds in Zimbabwe The School for Ethics and Global Leadership, Spring 2011 May 14, 2011 Table of Contents Section Page Executive Summary 1 Background and History 3 Recommendations for Governments 9 Diamond Industry 15 Conflict Diamonds and NGOs 18 Conclusion 23 Bibliography 24 Authors and Contributors Executive Summary: Olivia Hill, Chelsea Majoros, Jonathan Pine, and Doris Silverio Background and History: Sara Brakeman, Tyler Loughran, Jonathan Pine, and Tony Vazquez Government Responses: Andrew Knox, Chelsea Majoros, Jessi Perreira, and Jacob Warwick Diamond Industry: 7-*LEVRQ2OLYLD+LOO4XLQQ-HQNLQVDQG0DUF\2·+DOloran NGO Responses: Vanina Keyes, Yiwa Lau, Doris Silverio, and Erica Veazey Introduction This report is the work of 16 high school students who attended The School for Ethics and Global Leadership (SEGL) in Washington, DC in the spring of 2011. SEGL is a semester-long residential program whose mission is to provide intellectually motivated 11th graders who reflect the diversity of the United States with the best possible opportunity to shape themselves into ethical leaders who create positive change LQRXUZRUOG 0RUHLQIRUPDWLRQLVDYDLODEOHDWZZZVFKRROIRUHWKLFVRUJ (DFKVHPHVWHU·VFODVVchooses a FXUUHQWLQWHUQDWLRQDOFKDOOHQJHWKHVWXGHQWVWKHQUHVHDUFKDQGSUHSDUHD´FDSVWRQHµSROLF\GRFXPHQWWKDW SURSRVHVSUDFWLFDOVROXWLRQVWRWKDWFKDOOHQJH7KHZRUNLVHQWLUHO\WKHVWXGHQWV·RZQRSLQLRQVH[SUHVVHGLQ this report do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SEGL or its faculty. We offer this report with great hope for the future. Date of Publication: May 28, 2011 1 Executive Summary When the issue of conflict diamonds arises, countries like Sierra Leone immediately come to mind. Recent publicity, such as the movie Blood Diamond, has brought much popular support to the plight of miners in those countries. But the issue of conflict diamonds is not limited to these countries. Zimbabwe, a country in sub-Saharan Africa that produces conflict diamonds, has received comparatively no publicity. <HWWKHSUREOHPVWLOOH[LVWV=LPEDEZH·VPRVWSUHYDOHQWFKDOOHQJHV include an increase in illegal diamond mining due to rampant unemployment and poor economic conditions. To try and earn a profit, Zimbabwean citizens have had to illegally mine diamonds. In response to the increase in illegal mining, the Zimbabwean government has placed their army in the PLQHV$VDUHVXOWRIWKHJRYHUQPHQW·VLQWHQVHDQGYLROHQWFUDFNGRZQPDQ\KXPDQULJKWVYLRODWLRQV have been reported, particularly in the Marange fields of the Chiadzwa region, but despite these allegations, Zimbabwe still remains an active member in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). Diamonds mined in the Marange fields in Zimbabwe do not fit precisely into the KPCS definition of conflict diamonds. For the purpose of this document the definition of a conflict diamond has been altered to also include situations regarding human rights abuses committed by a suppressive government. The diamond industry is working diligently to monitor and detect exactly where their diamonds originate from in order to eliminate conflict diamonds from the trading business. However, the diamond industry needs to abstain from purchasing any diamonds from the Marange fields in Chiadzwa, Zimbabwe. The diamond industry must refrain from buying, selling, and trading the diamonds until the area is confirmed by task force teams as a conflict free zone. These teams will ensure that the Marange fields are operating in accordance to the Kimberley process by thoroughly investigating the Marange fields and promptly reporting all violations to authorities. In addition to safeguarding the trade, international diamond companies must pressure the Zimbabwean government to privatize the diamond industry. This would reduce the number of human rights abuses in the region. It is crucial that the military operating in the Marange diamond field be removed immediately. This ZRXOGEHHQIRUFHGWKURXJKWKH:RUOG7UDGH2UJDQL]DWLRQ·V :72 WKUHDWRIHFRQRPLFVDQFWLRQV RQ=LPEDEZH·VH[SRUWRISODWLQXP,QDGGLWLRQ7KH,QGLJHQL]DWLRQDQG(FRQRPLF(PSRZHUPHQW and Non Governmental Organizations Acts must be repealed. By repealing the Indigenization and Economic Empowerment Act, foreign countries would be able to freely operate inside of Zimbabwe. Due to the economic status in Zimbabwe, its government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) need to negotiate with one another to achieve the repayment of the HIPC loan package and the arrears owed to the IMF. Non-governmental organizations should collaborate to sponsor an informational documentary on the current conflict in Zimbabwe in order to educate individuals around the world. In addition, the Kimberley Process should place a fee on all diamonds that are currently certified by the Kimberley 2 Process. NGOs would use the money this fee to partner with the Kimberley Process and to create a full time staff, the Central Database Team, whose job is to gather data and use it to ensure that no conflict diamonds are transferred into the diamond industry. This Central Database Team would guarantee that the mines are working in accordance to the Kimberley Process, and would collect LQIRUPDWLRQIURPORFDO1*2·VDQGIURPWKH.LPEHUOH\3URFHVV0LVVLRQ5HYLHZ7HDP7KLVWHDP ZRXOGFRQVLVWRIJRYHUQPHQWRIILFLDOVLQWHUQDWLRQDO1*2·VDQGUHSUHVHQWDWLYHVIURPWKHGLDPRQG industry. This team·VMREZRXOGSULPDULO\EHWRGLVWULEXWHLQIRUPDWLRQDQGUHSRUWVWRWKHSXEOLFDQG WRDOORZWKH.LPEHUOH\3URFHVVWRVHQGUHYLHZWHDPVWRDQ\FHUWLILHGFRXQWU\·VGLDPRQGILHOGVWR gather information for public reports. These reports would be released every quarter of a year. As little known as these diamonds are, they still fuel conflict and human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, and must not be allowed to continue. The recommendations in this policy document have been written to do just that, so that the world may finally end the problem of conflict diamonds and begin to heal areas destroyed by decades of conflict. 3 Background and History Introduction On March 30, 2009, Zimbabwean police abducted Takunda Neshumba who was visiting his relative near the Marange diamond fields. After several days of torture in the custody of the Zimbabwean police, Takunda died from severe injuries.1 On June 21, 2009, soldiers detained 20-year-old Barnabas Makuyana and his friend while they were illegally mining diamonds in Marange. After being beaten for sixteen hours, Makuyana died from fatal injuries. His family could only identify him by his clothing because his body was so disfigured.2 These two stories represent the array of human rights violations occurring in Zimbabwe. In the recently discovered Marange diamond fields, the police and the military have attempted to stabilize the area by preventing illegal mining and smuggling. Under military control, however, there have been numerous human rights abuses in areas surrounding the Marange diamond fields. Zimbabwean diamonds do not fall under the United Nations definition of conflict diamonds, so Zimbabwe can participate in diamond trade through the Kimberley Process, an international venture between industry, civil society, and governments to eliminate the trade of diamonds mined in conflict zones. With the continuation of human rights abuses like the examples above, the controversy surrounding the legality of Zimbabwean diamonds grows. Despite past suspensions, Zimbabwean diamonds are currently legal for exportation according to the Kimberley Process. Zimbabwe On April 18, 1980, the British government formally granted independence to Zimbabwe after the establishment of a Zimbabwean constitution.3 President Robert Mugabe has been in power as a dictator since 1987.4 He has remained in power despite controversies such as the 2008 presidential elections. During these elections, Mugabe lost in the first round of voting but made dramatic gains after the second round, resulting in a landslide win. Many national and international leaders remain skeptical about the election and whether it was legitimate. Since independence from Britain, the Zimbabwean economy has relied heavily on agriculture and mining. Natural resources such as diamonds, gold, coal, and nickel have contributed greatly to the mining industry in Zimbabwe.5 'XHWR=LPEDEZH·VORZ*URVV'RPHVWLF3URGXFWDQGKLJK 1U.S. Department of State, 2009 Human Rights Report: Zimbabwe, 2009. 2Ibid. 3U.S. Department of State, Background Note: Zimbabwe, 2011. 4Ibid. 5Background Note: Zimbabwe, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5479.htm#history. 4 unemployment rate, many citizens have turned to illegal mining and smuggling as a source of income. Mining has become an increasingly significant industry in Zimbabwe as a result of the discoveries of natural resources throughout the 20th century. To maintain control of mining, the government implemented mining acts which are still in effect today. The 1961 Mine and Minerals Act vested all mining rights in the President and described how corporations and individuals can acquire mining rights.6 The 1978 Precious Stones Trade Act made mineral exploration, mining, and trading illegal without proper licensing.7 Both acts have given President Mugabe complete control over mining while also encouraging the search for minerals. The Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) is the only organization that can sell minerals, including diamonds, under the 1982 MMCZ Act.8 The MMCZ guarantees the legitimacy of diamonds and ensures the availability of certifications on shipments. In Zimbabwe, there are three main diamond fields: Murowa, River Ranch, and Marange. In 1971, Kimberlitic Searches, a subsidiary