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Zimbabwe's Marange diamond fields 'plundered'

At least $2bn (£1.25bn) worth of diamonds has been stolen from Zimbabwe, campaign group Partnership Africa Canada (PAC) has alleged.

It was "the biggest plunder of diamonds since Cecil Rhodes", it said, referring to a British colonial mining magnate.

The "theft" at the Marange fields had enriched Zimbabwean officials, international gem dealers and criminals, the PAC report said.

A Zimbabwean mining official dismissed the allegation as "totally false".

The report, Reap What You Sow: Greed and Corruption in Zimbabwe's Marange Diamond Fields, was released by the Ottawa-based group to coincide with the Zimbabwean government's conference on diamond trade at the resort town of Victoria Falls.

'Mind-blowing illegality'

President Robert Mugabe, in his address to delegates, said the government was committed to observing "international laws on diamond mining, storage and trading", AP news agency reports.

The industry's global watchdog body, the Kimberley Process, lifted a ban on Zimbabwean diamond sales in 2011, with the backing of the US and European Union.

The ban was imposed in 2009 following reports that Zimbabwean military officials were benefiting from the diamond trade and there had been killings and human rights abuses at the Marange fields.

The PAC said the scale of "illegality" at the fields was "mind-blowing".

"Conservative estimates place the theft of Marange goods at almost $2bn since 2008," it added.

In July, Zimbabwean Finance Minister Tendai Biti said that $600m in diamond revenues was expected this year, but only $46m had materialised.

Mr Biti is a member of the Movement of Democratic Change (MDC), which is in a fractious coalition with Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party.

The two parties formed a power-sharing government in 2009, following elections marred by violence.

The mining industry and security portfolios are controlled by Zanu-PF.

The head of of the state-run Zimbabwe Mining Development Company, Goodwills Masimirembwa, told AP that the PAC's allegations were "totally false".

"No diamonds have ever gone missing," Mr Masimirembwa is quoted as saying.

"When we are selling our diamonds, all stakeholders - the police, revenue board and the country's mineral marketing body - come together. So, are they saying all these institutions are in collusion?"

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Originally posted by Kwicko:
Normally you have to go to occupied Iraq to find that kind of looting and plunder, brought to you courtesy of Blackwater and KBR Halliburton!

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Originally posted by Geezer:

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Originally posted by Kwicko:
Normally you have to go to occupied Iraq to find that kind of looting and plunder, brought to you courtesy of Blackwater and KBR Halliburton!

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There are diamond mines in Iraq? Well, you learn something new every day.

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Originally posted by Kwicko:

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Originally posted by Geezer:

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Originally posted by Kwicko:
Normally you have to go to occupied Iraq to find that kind of looting and plunder, brought to you courtesy of Blackwater and KBR Halliburton!

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There are diamond mines in Iraq? Well, you learn something new every day.

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I doubt you learn something new every day.

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Originally posted by Geezer:

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Originally posted by Kwicko:

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Originally posted by Geezer:

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Originally posted by Kwicko:
Normally you have to go to occupied Iraq to find that kind of looting and plunder, brought to you courtesy of Blackwater and KBR Halliburton!

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There are diamond mines in Iraq? Well, you learn something new every day.

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I doubt you learn something new every day.

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So. Election over. We now return to Mike's regular trolling.

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Originally posted by RionaEire:
I don't like fake stones, they're lame.

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Originally posted by Geezer:

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Originally posted by Kwicko:

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Originally posted by Geezer:

Quote:

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Originally posted by Kwicko:
Normally you have to go to occupied Iraq to find that kind of looting and plunder, brought to you courtesy of Blackwater and KBR Halliburton!

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There are diamond mines in Iraq? Well, you learn something new every day.

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I doubt you learn something new every day.

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So. Election over. We now return to Mike's regular trolling.

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Originally posted by AnthonyT:

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Originally posted by RionaEire:
I don't like fake stones, they're lame.

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Hello,

What is lame about a 'fake' stone? They are marvels of technology, and often have superior qualities to the dug up stuff.

--Anthony


Note to Self:
Raptor - woman testifying about birth control is a slut (the term applies.)
Context: http://tinyurl.com/d6ozfej
Six - Wow, isn't Niki quite the CUNT? And, yes, I spell that in all caps....
http://tinyurl.com/bdjgbpe
Wulf - Niki is a stupid fucking bitch who should hurry up and die.
Context: http://tinyurl.com/afve3r9

“The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget.” -T. S. Szasz

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Originally posted by RionaEire:
You don't feel connected to the earth and its processes if you're wearing something people made, marvel of modern science or not.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

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