Zimbabwe Gov’t to Relocate Thousands from Controversial Diamond Field

The Zimbabwe government decided to relocate thousands of families from the Marange diamond fields to allow for increased commercial extraction, setting a side $10 million for the relocation, the independent online news agency ZimOnline reported on Saturday. 

The eastern-Zimbabwe diamond field has been the subject of much scrutiny as allegations of government-sanctioned mining and smuggling in the region have increased in recent years. In July, a Kimberley Process (KP) review mission cited such allegations, in addition to widespread human rights abuses committed by the Zimbabwe military, who are there under the premise of protecting of the field from illegal mining.

The South African-based news agency cites a statement by Zimbabwean government official Murisi Zwizwai that the $10 million will be used for the building of new houses and clinics. Zwizwai said the families would not be uprooted until the end of the agricultural season in March 2010.

A KP meeting earlier this month voted against removing Zimbabwe from its certification scheme, deciding instead to further monitor Zimbabwe’s mining operations.