Rights Group Demands Good Use Of Diamond Money

Harare, January 25, 2013 – The Committee of the Peoples Charter (CPC) is demanding that diamond revenues be channeled to education, health care, refurbishment of railway lines and trains as well as provision of clean and safe water.

In a statement on Friday, the CPC, said this followed recent statements made by the Minister of Mines, Obert Mpofu, that Zimbabwe will be able to make $ 2b a year from diamond sales.

A recent Kimberly Process meeting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) gave Zimbabwe a go-ahead to sell diamonds from Marange to world markets at competitive prices.

“The Honourable Minister’s announcement that Zimbabwe will be able to make an estimated gross amount of US$2 billion per annum from these diamond sales is a matter that should be further explained with particular respect to the national fiscus and the intended priorities as to how this revenue should be utilized for the public good.

CPC warned that where the government failed to commit diamond revenue to priority areas, it will be a travesty of social and economic justice.

The CPC also warned it will be tracking the usage of this revenue with the intention of bringing the government to account and in order to curb corruption as well as the misplacement of priorities by the government.