Diamond watchdog gives Zim time to comply

What BS. Zanu PF and Mugabe being cut more slack. T.I.A.

Everyone in the whole country is a "virtual slave".

The so called "Diamond watchdog" and the "Kimberley Process" is nothing more than a body to protect the interests of the diamond cartel controlled by the Oppenheimer family.

Anybody with any interest in how the diamond cartel goes about it's business should watch this documentary, particularly Part 2 which focuses on South Africa:

http://freespeech.org/video/diamond-empire-part-one

As a Zimbabwean I'm not a big fan of NGO's that are politically connected to be advocates of shutting down mines. The issues were fully discussed by members and a decision was made not to close diamond mining in Zimbabwe. The article itself has a lot more "hot air" than facts.

Zodwa: If that were true, then this will all blow over, right? Nothing to worry about.

Zimbabwe has a fantastic reputation of fair elections, tolerating alternative viewpoints in the media, an impartial judiciary, a thriving agricultural economy, 10% unemployment... All in all, a truly wondrous government that's for the people, voted by the people, that continues to this day it's "one man, one vote" mantra that originated 30 yrs ago. What an illustrious history! And to top it off, Zimbabwe is respected the world over - a fitting tribute to consistent and great leadership.

Accordingly, there cannot be any basis to the evidence of Zimbabwe's "significant non-compliance" to the Kimberley Process. And it's an absolute stretch to any reasonable observer that Zanu PF, the party of the PEOPLE, would "reap the benefits"?!!

It's just not possible, not the Zimbabwe I know and love...

Shaun, you "Rhodesians" slit your own throats with your racist hero Smith's inability to accept a power sharing deal offered by Mugabe.

And when you were offered market related prices for your farms (which very few of you fools accepted anyway), so that there could be a more equitable redistribution of land and other resources, your colonial masters in Britain reneged on the deal.

You have no one other than your bitter and twisted idiot selves to blame for what happened in "Rhodesia". Many of the choices your sort made helped to bring about the destitution we now see in Zimbabwe.

Now, many of your "Rhodesian" brothers and sisters are stirring up the same anti-white sentiments that caused you to flee here. Where are you gonna go from here poephol?

The naivety of an African is tremendous, Tiseke Kasambala is pulling against Zimbabwe thinking that her effort will benefit the general Zimbabwean.

Though the Chiadzwa diamond mine was not being extracted in accordance with the rules, nevertheless a good number of common people were benefiting over and above government, if those diamonds are classified as bloody diamonds, Zimbabweans will be the losers. You wonder if these Human Rights lobbyists are for Africa or are paid by remote interested parties to spoil for their gains.

The Diamond Watchdog is just that a "dog" . They have avested interest in the "blood diamonds" and don't have the balls to bring the Zanu PF " Slave Masters" into line.

I think the ANC YL will describe the "Diamond Mining" in Zimbabwe as one that has a "rich African Agenda". One that says " dig or die" as African Cronies need the money to subsidise War in the rest of Africa and against their people.

It is time Zimbabwe woke up to the realities of the world and not hide behind their "anti-colonial mind" that is madness.

Anybody interested in a real story:

That MDC members are being abducted, tortured, remanded, denied medical attention to cover up their torture injuries and accused of training terrorists in Zambia and Botswana again?:

http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=24620

Let alone what's happening in the rural areas which have a media blackout thanks to ZANU.

Rape has never been taken seriously as a crime against humanity on this continent. (Just look at how pervasive it is in the DRC, Sudan, etc.) And reporting on the rape of women in Zimbabwe's blood diamond mines isn't going to add any pressure to ZANU PF. Zimbabwe's mineral wealth will be plundered regardless, and none of the men in power - there or in SA - give a damn that this is happening over women's broken bodies.

Billy Hill,

Don't like white Zimbabweans (or Rhodesians as you prefer to call us) then do you? Your spiteful comment seems to exonerate Mugabe and the ZANU PF and place the blame squarely on whites.

I do agree that Smith was a racist and should have taken a far more moderate approach to the inclusion of black Zimbabweans. But while Smith was stubbornly holding out what was happening south of the Limpopo? Those in glass houses.......

I wonder what Chomsky thinks of this onslaught on Zimbabwe by the Rhodesian lobby? We are told about some secret report made available surprise surprise to the western press that is not backed by solid evidence whose main witness widely quoted has disowned it. No one has been able to prove the oft stated abuses and violations and they remain thus, allegations.

Am Zimbo too from Mutare nera Chiadzwa and know that those who are benefitting are a small group of the army people and ceratin ZANU Pf elements. Rhodesian lobby my foot! Pane mitumbi apa that have resulted from the official's efforts to keep control and pillage.

If government were serious about making it work for the nation and the people, this would have been done properly a long time ago but it is in not in their personal interests.

Shaun you ignore the fact that a British company has a claim against the diamond mine in Zimbabwe and most claims made by the Diamond Lobby group really just represent Anglo white interest in Zimbabwe. The rules are changing in Southern Africa. It is SADC that has the power to decide and not outside interests!