via Zimbabwe’s $2bn diamond revenue nowhere to be found | MINING.com by Cecilia Jamasmie | October 17, 2013
“It is not clear where the money is going,” said watchdog Global Witness.
More than $2 billion in revenues from the high mining taxes Zimbabwe charges to companies —particularly to diamond producers— are still missing from the government coffers, with no one to officially blame, reports Canadian Press.
Despite being the world’s fourth-largest diamond miner, mainly thanks to the vast and rich Marange field, Zimbabwe is still one of the poorest countries in the world. But the nation, until last month affected by European Union sanctions, is again demanding answers from its leaders.
Global Witness, an organization that campaigns against natural resource-related conflict and corruption, as well as associated environmental and human rights abuses, says its has strong evidence of links between Zimbabwe’s two largest diamond mining companies and Zimbabwean officers.
“It is not clear where the money is going,” said Global Witness spokeswoman Emily Armistead. “It appears there is a mixture of corruption enriching specific individuals and some funds going to security operations. Our concern is that it could be used to fund repression and human rights abuses.”
For years the country’s diamond industry has been fraught with controversy both domestically and internationally due to accusations of human rights abuses and corruption.
In 2012, Zimbabwe’s Deputy Mines Minister, Gift Chimanikire, confirmed an army-owned company holds a 40% stake on Anjin, one of the most lucrative diamond concessions in the country.
Days later it was reported that a Chinese diamond mogul have ploughed $100 million into the African country’s Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) to fund covert operations against the opposition.
Early this year, the country’s Finance Minister Tendai Biti accused diamond firms of failure to pay tax revenues in full to the authorities, claiming only $40 million out of an expected $600 million reached government coffers in 2012.
And in his September speech at the UN, President Robert Mugabe said one top mining official and ruling party loyalist had recently accepted a $6 million bribe from Ghanaian investors to obtain diamond-mining rights in Marange.
So far, no legal action has been taken against the official or any other person involved in alleged diamond-related corruption.
The nation’s total diamond production from Marange increased from 8,7 million carats in 2011 to 12 million carats last year. This year, production is expected to rise further reaching over 17 million carats.
COMMENTS
If these criminal zanoid survive our snake pit then forget the courts. Just firing squad or beheading. We have thousands eager hangmen. Bassop benefitting relatives
So sad when the wonderful people of Zimbabwe and the most beautiful of countries continue to suffer when a handful of evil despots are so filthy stinking rich you are able to smell them in Malaysia.Time is running out for them and the people will very soon say enough is enough.
All those who want to know where the diamond money goes to, need to approach Mugabe for answers.If he says he does not know where all the money has gone to, he wll be just lying through his nose. He is the commander in chief.
the elections were rigged so as to protect the guilty and continue asset stripping the country,treason is rife in zanu
Aint no diamonds in heaven, so greedy claws better keep all they can ’cause they gonna need them where they’re going.
Please spare us of this old junc. I would like to know where all the hundreds of billions the British are stealing from Africa through transfer pricing are going. The fact that they do not publisise the stealing means the money cannot go through government coffers, so where does it go? And where are the trillions of dollars that the British stole from Africa for hundreds of years? These are the answers we need, not the stupid same old allegations about Chiadzwa Diamonds. Still on Chiadzwa diamonds, where are the billions that DeBeers stole over 15 years from Chiadzwa under the guise of taking samples to South Africa when in fact they were minining the diamonds? Those are the questions we want answered and quickly please.
Nasion again the same old deadly mistake that us Africans tend to make- making excuses for ourselves by highlighting the wrongful actions of others. You are free to do a report on the unethical practices of other countries or mining companies but please let that not sidetrack the issue at hand i.e. that we have a serious problem in Zimbabwe- our country is not realizing the full benefits of the revenue generated by our extractive resources, particularly diamonds. Remember that extractive resources deplete; our diamonds are not going to be here forever hence the opportunity to put the revenue generated by diamonds to meet Zimbabwe’s developmental needs is NOW not tomorrow! It is imperative that we hold our government accountable about the diamond revenue lest the opportunity to meet the financial and developmental needs of Zimbabwe be missed. It will be to the benefit of every single Zimbabwean and future generations if our government could adopt the principles of accountability and transparency in the diamond dealings (and dare I say all sectors of government). For $2billion in revenue to just go missing is a developmental opportunity murderously stolen for the people of Zimbabwe- now imagine how much more is going missing as we speak due to the lack of accountability and transparency?. Imagine what a difference $2 Billion could do for our nation? What a shame!
Naison = Zanu-pf crook / CIO !!!
The British and the rest of the west at least built cities and infrastructure for posterity. Which town or infrastructure has ZANU PF constructed since 1980? I don’t know how really people can still defend this madness? I just came back from Harare yesterday what is happening there is beyond description pathetic is not close to describe how our people are suffering. I have concluded that Mugabe and Zanu PF actually hates Zimbabwe and her people. These men and women are cruel very cruel.
Vanoda.maitiro avo asi zvichabuda pachena one day.
It never ceases to amaze me, what all those both educated and not so educated people who support ZANU(PF) think about this diamond revenue shortfall. It pains me so much, that so many people choose to be wilfully ignorant when it comes to this obvious looting.
Isn’t it obvious that Mugabe is topping the list of the looters. if Mugabe wasn’t involved, how come he is doing nothing to stop the rot.
As president and commander in chief, if he has an ounce of humanity, he would tell the nation, where the diamond revenue is going.
Mugabe and his mates were able to own Zimbabwe for 20 years before they sold it off to the Chinese. The Chinese could not afford for Zanu to lose.
Let’s remove this evil using whatever means.let’s protect our children’s legacy, even if it means using violence.
Naison must be one of the 55 billionaires in Africa to be so naïve to tell us about the British and colonialism. We are tired of hearing that excuse and only shows Naison is not in step with what’s happening today. That’s why I thought he is one of the rich, he must be benefiting from this plunder. Long live Cde Naison and your Zanu, enjoy it while you can because we are coming to get you. Funny, the guilty are always afraid of something. Won’t be funny when Zimbabwe collapses from the weight of its corruption and impunity.
Nyereyegona you are a congenital imbecile. You have a warped brain. Its obvious you are a beneficiary of this rampart corruption in the diamond industry. The looting by the british cannot justify the looting at chiadzwa. To hell with your anti-british obsession. Allow your pea-sized brain to see the corruption at chiadzwa as is without bringing in irrelevant issues. FOOLISH MAN !
Chara – I agree! We need an ‘efficient and effective struggle’ – whatever form it takes!
Naison b reasonable are you justifying the revenue being stolen from Zimbabwe by Zimbabweans based on monies stolen by Britain and De beers. Saka ukaona mumwe achidya ndove newewo woto tevedzera sis..
Once again zanoids doing what try want with impunity and at the same time spitting into the faces of their own people. What do Zanoid supporters say about the diamond money? Is this what they think a responsible government is all about. ICC for all of them
Guys like naison need to know the truth not the lies they’re told to believe . This issue is very serious considering the poverty non payment of taxes hunger unemployment and the like . My dear if you’re a beneficiary there change yo attitude my people are suffering and are angry. Be patriotic.
The resources are sufficient to meet everyones need but inadequate to meet everyones greed.
vanhu vese vari kutara asi vachisiya ZIMRA. if an ordinary person or company fails to pay or remit taxes they will descend on it heavy handed.
but this time around they are mute/quiet. why? noone is asking ZIMRA boss either.
remember these are taxes, but ZMDC (a government entity) is said to own 50% of these companies and is mute about its revenues. We hear of Mbada this and that showing that Mbada is full of money but for ZMDC there is nothing to show.
Naison,you accuse the British of taking money out!! Well you must remember that the infrastructure of this country was built from the money that you say was stolen. You think the roads, Kariba Power Station, Hwange, all the Commerce and Industry etc etc just materialised from nothing!! You are a complete and utter fool to believe that. When did any money from this ZANU PF run government ever find its way back into the country. What have they done to improve the lives of anyone here, but themselves. You are obviously one of those that are raping this country and have no intention of giving anything back.
even if they steal will they go wth them to heaven they will die and leave all on earth and hell awaits them let them be greed GOD is watching them since i came of knowledge i hve never seen anyone or a family that was buried wth money let alone silver nd gold so why betray yoselves comrades here on earth when good life awaits all good GOD abiding citizens in heaven
Naison, you and your Zanoids are a disgrace to decent Africans across the continent. When will you guys ever realise you will never win this battle. Yes you looted and now its okay to strip the country’s wealth. You will lose because rigged elections your punishment is an economy that won’t be rigged. You have your rope which you’re now hanging on soon. Naison, I do not think a Zanu PF government will last two years. You have gone over your heads this time.
Poor zim,so many of us just want to come home and bring our money and wealth of expertise with us,but that won’t happen till the thieves are deposed,we won’t lose it all twice,God bless you all