The United States yesterday added government-controlled Marange Resources (Pvt) Ltd and Mbada Diamonds Mining to its sanctions list, hardly a month after Zimbabwe got the nod to export rough diamonds from Chiadzwa.
The list includes 163 top Zanu PF officials including President Robert Mugabe and 31 businesses aligned to the former ruling party.
The latest development follows campaigns by human rights groups pushing for an embargo on the country’s diamond exports over allegations of gross human rights abuses.
Mines and Mining Development minister Obert Mpofu could not be reached for comment over the latest developments.
Last month, the Kimberley Process (KP) lifted a two-year ban on Zimbabwe’s gems, paving way for government-aligned companies such as Anjin, Marange and Mbada Diamond to resume exports.
Government wholly owns Marange Resources and has a 50% stake in Mbada, which it co-owns with South African investors. Anjin is a 50-50 joint venture between the Zimbabwean and Chinese governments.
Several senior army and police officials, already on the US and European sanctions list, have been named as running companies on behalf of the government.
Mike Davis of Global Witness, one of the groups viciously pushing for the embargo, described the recent lifting of the KP ban as regrettable.
