Global Witness abandons Kimberley Process

Global Witness leaves the Kimberley Process (KP) noting the KP's refusal to “evolve and address the clear links between diamonds, violence and tyranny” which makes the KP useless. Global Witness last month disagreed with the KP's clearance for Zimbabwe to trade diamonds. In their press statement Global Witness argues that: “Consumers have a right to know what they’re buying, and what was done to obtain it, the diamond industry must finally take responsibility for its supply chains and prove that the stones it sells are clean.”.

The final meeting between President Zuma's team and Zimbabwean negotiators took place last monday. The team tried to resolve GPA issues that still have to be implemented. They will head back to South Africa and brief President Zuma. The meeting was to inform Zuma's team on the main issues where implementation is slow and where fundamental differences make it hard to implement them, according to Elton Mangoma.

Today the Zanu-PF conference in Bulawayo will kick off. It is expected that President Mugabe will keep its current position and run for president in the proposed, although unlikely, 2012 elections.

The Constitution Select Committee (COPAC) put discussions on hold about a proposal concerning two vice-presidents, with the requirement that one of them has to come from Matabeleland. The way this issue is resolved and put into practice might have bigger consequences than expected, considering the insights given in a recent report titled “Thinking Inside the Box” by RAU.