The Conversation (0)
New pressures are being put on the Kimberley Process Scheme to deal with human rights violations from the Marange and Chiadzwa diamond fields. Zimbabwe’s refusal to deal with the issues and work with Kimberley Process officials may threaten to derail the organization.
By Michael Montgomery—Exclusive to Diamond Investing News
Since the Sierra Leon Civil War in 1991, blood diamonds and the role they played in funding rebel group’s genocide in the region have cast a dark shadow over the diamond industry. As the political awareness of the situation in Africa became reality, the need for a monitoring organization arose and the Kimberley Process was born; its purpose is to ensure conscientious consumers that their consumption was not furthering conflicts in the region. In 2003, the Kimberley Process participating nations started to implement its rules and regulations. However, the Process has lacked the teeth it needs to enforce penalties levied against countries and companies that break the rules.
In “An Open Letter to Abbey Chikane, the New KP Monitor for Zimbabwe,” Avi Krawitz of The Rapaport Group called upon the organization to take a more serious stance towards diamonds coming from the region. If no action is taken against Zimbabwe’s Marange diamond fields, the organization may loose the legitimacy it needs to further its role in the world diamond market. “Because the KP — with its three pillars of government, civil society and industry — has allowed itself to be so manipulated and so ineffective, two of your co-founders, Ian Smilie, and my boss, Martin Rapaport, have resigned from the organization. They felt they would be more likely to enact change outside the KP than from within.” The strong words from The Rapaport Group highlight the struggles between KP regulators and participating nations.
Sentiments from within the Zimbabwean government reflect the increasing reluctance to work with the KP. Mines Minister Obert Mpofu has stated that the country would sell the Marange Diamonds with or without certification from the KP. “If the KP is unsatisfied with our efforts and wants to be difficult, saying that we have failed to comply with their requirements…we will not lose sleep, but rather, we will just pull out and not lose anything,” stated Mines Minster Mpofu about the increased scrutiny from KP and human rights institutions.
Highlighting the ongoing struggle in the African nation, the KP recently confirmed continuing human rights issues in the area; but a ban on the diamonds in the world market has yet to be confirmed.
“A Human Rights Watch report last year exposed ongoing abuses in the controversial Chiadzwa diamond fields, including forced labor, beatings, and rape committed by the military. An investigation by a Kimberley Process delegation confirmed these atrocities … But the Kimberley Process refused to ban the country, and instead has given Zimbabwe until June to ‘fall in line’ with trade standards. This plan has not yet resulted in any positive changes on the diamond fields,” reported Alex Bell of SW Radio Africa News.
The Zimbabwean diamond fields and the human rights abuses surrounding associated with it mark the most important case study for the power of the Kimberley Process’ ability to change the industry. If KP looses the battle in Zimbabwe, what is left of the organization?
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