Blood diamonds could flood back into the world diamond market unless a solution is found which brings Zimbabwe back under global control according to Willie Nagel, founder of the Kimberley Process – a group made up of government, human rights and diamond-industry officials to prevent the trading of diamonds that could be used for financing wars. Willie Nagel has warned that Zimbabwe is not adhering to the “clean trade” system.

Harare insists they have complied with Kimberley’s demands, pointing to a recently published positive report from the regulator’s monitors. However human rights groups say abuses continue to take place in the Marange diamond fields. They cite the massacre of hundreds of illegal diggers and state that soldiers are still engaging in forced labour, torture and harassment.

There are fears that money gained from the industry might be used to fund Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party.

Photo copyright Swamibu