"A Blatant & Shameless Lie", Govt Chides U.S. Over Marange Diamonds

The government of Zimbabwe has expressed annoyance at the United States’ move to block Marange diamonds from entering that country alleging that the diamonds are produced through forced labour.

Permanent Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Ndavaningi Nick Mangwana told The Herald on Tuesday night that Washington’s decision is regrettable. He said:

This is a regrettable development because the reason the US authorities are citing, namely that Zimbabwean diamonds are being produced under forced labour, is a blatant and shameless lie that will surprise even cynics amongst us.

… apparently, invoking the repulsive prospect of alleged forced labour is a new nomenclature for seeking to bar Zimbabwe’s diamonds from the international market after previous attempts to label Zimbabwean diamonds as blood diamonds failed.

Mining of rough diamonds in Marange, Manicaland province, has been mired in controversy since it started several years ago.

In June this year a United States-based firm, Blue Nile, blacklisted diamonds from Zimbabwe due to reported human rights abuses in the Marange.

More: The Herald