Mugabe threatens to flood the world with diamonds

[Dingswayo]

Mugabe threatens to flood the world with diamonds in unauthorised bid to bring Zimbabwe back from the brink



By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 12:38 PM on 14th July 2010

Defiant: Robert Mugabe in Harare yesterday

Robert Mugabe has threatened to flood the world's diamond markets - despite being slapped down by the world's diamond control body.

The Zimbabwean president said his nation's massive reserves of diamonds have 'huge potential' to revive the shattered economy.

He said Zimbabwe can account for one-fourth of the world's diamond supply.
The Kimberley Process diamond certification scheme has not authorised international sales amid allegations of killings, human rights violations and corruption in the massive diamond fields discovered in eastern Zimbabwe in 2006.

'No one should doubt our resolve to sell our diamonds,' Mr Mugabe told politicians at the ceremonial opening of the Parliament in Harare.

Criticism by Western nations and human rights groups deadlocked a Kimberly Process meeting in Israel last month that sought approval for the sales after a regional monitor of the control body reported Zimbabwe had met minimum international diamond mining standards.

Mr Mugabe said Zimbabwe's Western adversaries wanted 'absurd' conditions put in place to block the diamond sales.

'We have to remain rooted in the reality we are the sole guarantors of our economic emancipation,' he said.

Critics of Mr Mugabe say his economic policies contributed to precipitous economic decline in a decade of political turmoil that included the often violent seizures of thousands of white-owned farms that disrupted the agriculture-based economy.

Massive reserves: Miners dig for diamonds in Marange, Zimbabwe, in 2006

Mr Mugabe acknowledged that key infrastructure - including power and water utilities, roads and transport services - fell into disrepair and housing programmes were at a standstill over the past decade.

Mining experts estimate that Zimbabwe's diamond fields, sealed off by police and troops in the districts of Marange and Chiadzwa near the eastern city of Mutare, are likely the biggest deposits found in Africa since the Kimberley fields were discovered in neighbouring South Africa a century ago.

The mines ministry said it already has about $1.7billion of diamonds in storage ready to be sold.

Zimbabwe's total international debt is estimated at around $5.5billion.


Read more: Mugabe threatens to flood diamond markets in unauthorised bid to bring Zimbabwe back from the brink | Mail Online

 

[Diana-DaboDiff]

Hawa wazungu chochote ambacho kita watoa kwenye makucha yao lazima wakipige vita.Mugabe make it rain diamonds go go.

 

[bona]

with all the negative publicity in western media guys zimbabwe has start to stabilize! not so long nchi nyingine za africa zitajua umuhimu wa kujitegemea, wamepata hardship ya muda mfupi lakini i can assure you sasa wanaanza kwenda mbele na ni right direction, always right direction inakua mda mwingine ni mgumu ila ni bora kuukabili mapema!

 

[Utingo]

Very good grand pa

 

[Ruge Opinion]

with all the negative publicity in western media guys zimbabwe has start to stabilize! not so long nchi nyingine za africa zitajua umuhimu wa kujitegemea, wamepata hardship ya muda mfupi lakini i can assure you sasa wanaanza kwenda mbele na ni right direction, always right direction inakua mda mwingine ni mgumu ila ni bora kuukabili mapema!

I always believed Zimbabwe would survive because Bob was doing the right thing. Zimbabwe is being punished not because of human rights violation or such nonsense but because of trying to right the wrongs committed by white invaders. Yes, they have suffered but they will come out stronger. Any other African leader with the balls to emulate Bob? I doubt it.

 

[eliakeem]

I always believed Zimbabwe would survive because Bob was doing the right thing. Zimbabwe is being punished not because of human rights violation or such nonsense but because of trying to right the wrongs committed by white invaders. Yes, they have suffered but they will come out stronger. Any other African leader with the balls to emulate Bob? I doubt it.

Kudos Robert GM, the true sone of Africa.
We know you will win the battle with the westerners.
Mapambano bado yanaendelea.

 

[Abdulhalim]

Mining experts estimate that Zimbabwe's diamond fields, sealed off by police and troops in the districts of Marange and Chiadzwa near the eastern city of Mutare, are likely the biggest deposits found in Africa since the Kimberley fields were discovered in neighbouring South Africa a century ago.

The mines ministry said it already has about $1.7billion of diamonds in storage ready to be sold.

U gotta love the Zimbabwean leadership for this, sio hii misukule yetu.

 

[UmkhontoweSizwe]

Do it, do it braza. Wasikuwekee vipingamizi wakai diamond ni zako. Wao mbona hatuwawekei vikwazo kuuza vyao. FREE MARKET FOR ALL.

 

[Diana-DaboDiff]

Hii Kimberley proccess na dhana nzima ya blood diamonds ni ukoloni mamboleo na inabana waafrica pekee Liberia,Siera leone na Zimbabwe. Russia ambayo ni kati ya wazalishaji 3 wa juu wanatumia wafungwa katika migodi yao kadhaa na wameshindwa kuwashugulikia.Hata hii ICC ya The Hague utadhani wameanzishiwa waafrica tu huku wahalifu wengine wakifumbiwa macho.Sisi wachovu tunaoridhika na asilimia 3% ya rasilimali yetu tunasifiwa lakini Zimbabwe wanaochimba na kutaka kuuza wenyewe wanawekewa kila aina ya vikwazo wasije tuamsha na sisi.

 

[Kichuguu]

Tatizo Mugabe bado anaendeleza siasa za kizamani za kuongoza "mapambano dhidi ya mabeberu." Ingawa siasa hizo zilikuwa nzuri na zilifanya kazi vizuri sana miaka hiyo ya sitini na sabini katika kutukomboa, ulimwengu ulibadilika sana mishoni mwa miaka ya themanini ambapo siku hizi tunahitaji uongozi wa kutuongoza jinsi ya "kula na mabeberu." Unfortunately, kuna nchi nyingine kama sisi Tazanania tuna viongozi wanaotuongoza "kuliwa na mabeberu," lakini nchi nyingin zilizojua jinsi ya "kula na mabeberu" kama China, India na nchi nyingi za Asia zinaendelea viuri sana.