The "Blood Diamond" Curse In Zimbabwe

Zimbabwean Blood Diamonds (Conflict Diamonds) is the term for crystalline carbon blocks mined in the Marange fields (Manicaland province), where waves of labor exploitation, forced violence, and illegal smuggling occurred for illicit profit. This humanitarian crisis, which began in 2006, has made Zimbabwe a painful focal point of human rights violations, forcing international organizations to tighten oversight of the global gemstone supply chain.

What are Blood Diamonds?

Blood diamonds (or Conflict Diamonds) are rough diamonds mined in areas of armed conflict, violence, or severe human rights abuses, often used to fund rebel activities or enrich corrupt interest groups.

This concept was internationalized in the late 1990s to reflect the extreme reality of mineral exploitation in Africa. Instead of bringing economic prosperity, these resource mines ignited:

• Civil wars and ethnic conflicts: Directly funding nascent militia forces.
• Forced labor: Forcing civilians and prisoners into hard labor under perilous conditions.
• Child labor exploitation: Using minors who delve deep into dangerous collapsed pits due to their small body size.
• Loss of national finance: Mineral resources are smuggled to the black market, not contributing to welfare budgets or social infrastructure.

The Promise of a Life-Changing Opportunity Beneath the Earth

In 2006, a mineral rush erupted in Zimbabwe. This was when the Marange diamond fields were exploited freely. From late 2006 to the peak in 2008, tens of thousands of people flocked to Marange to mine diamonds. Small and medium-sized diamond mining companies promised ambitious commission rates.

However, not all promises were kept. Many companies only offered jobs for everyone. The commission rates were a distant concept, blown away by the wind. As a result, out of these 30,000 people, up to 10,000 were working illegally.

Inevitably, the hiding of these people was a consequence of operating outside the law. Living conditions were scarce, the work environment was toxic and fraught with risks. Besides disputes over mining areas, crises of water, housing, and food also began to erupt. The black market emerged, interfering between companies, the government, and laborers. Better prices and higher returns only accelerated instability and caused much disruption.

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This instability also involved the government, as corrupt officials participated. Policy priorities and benefits created grievances among the miners. Continuous bloody conflicts and skirmishes led the government to implement strong measures.

The Curse of Blood Diamonds Takes Effect

Hidden Dangers, Risks, and Impacts of Blood Diamonds

Despite the negative reactions, mining activities continued. No longer widespread, but disguised and fraught with risks and impacts. Specifically:

• A large number of children dropped out of school to search for diamonds. This contributed to child labor exploitation.
• Teachers, workers, and even professionals quit their jobs to go to the mines. The immediate benefits were too obvious to resist.

• Prostitution and sexual assault occurred complexly. HIV and AIDS spread and became prevalent in the community.
• Due to early labor participation and the lack of legal protection, many teenage girls became pregnant.

• As a consequence, women brought their children to the mines, reducing the children's educational opportunities.
• Violent, armed conflicts occurred openly and frequently. Many participants and innocent bystanders lost their lives in the Manicaland fields.

• Mines were set up quickly, without proper construction plans or basic safety measures. Therefore, floods and tunnel collapses occurred frequently, leading to dozens of deaths.
• Blood diamond mining in Zimbabwe paralyzed the African economy. Because the core workforce was focused on diamond mining, and the revenue flowed into the hands of smugglers. The state received no benefit, and the national economy did not develop.

Government Repression

In November 2008, the Zimbabwean government began implementing repressive measures, particularly against illegal miners and smugglers. Accordingly, over 200 people were killed by helicopter, and many deaths due to violence and torture were recorded. Not to mention countless other bloody crackdowns and arrests targeting everyone in Marange.

Also in that year, opposition politicians claimed there were vested interests in the crackdown. This sparked controversy and a change in the approach to curb illegality in Marange. Accordingly, anyone found possessing foreign currency or diamonds in the Marange area would be detained. And everyone, whether a miner or a dealer in Marange, had to go through the government.

2009 Resettlement Plan

In 2009, the Zimbabwean government approved a resettlement plan for approximately 4,700 villagers from Chiadzwa to the Transau farm. Although the governor of Manicaland province stated there was support, the villagers strongly opposed the move. This resettlement was seen as a way to clear the ground for the comprehensive exploitation of diamonds in the Manicaland diamond fields.

By 2012, a report from the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association (ZELA) indicated that the water in Manicaland had been contaminated. Specifically, mining operations were releasing hazardous chemicals into the Save River. This caused a wave of negative reactions, impacting Anjin, Diamond Mining Corporation, and Marange Resources.

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The Kimberley Process and its Role in Preventing Blood Diamonds

To address the global outcry over blood diamonds, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was established.

The Kimberley Process is an international legislative mechanism that requires member states to only import and export rough diamonds accompanied by a legitimate certificate. This certificate guarantees that the stone is entirely clean and does not finance armed conflicts.

However, international gemologists note that KPCS still has significant loopholes, as it defines "blood diamonds" only as stones financing rebels against the government, not including cases of violence by state armed forces or corporations against indigenous populations, as occurred in Marange.

How to Avoid Buying Blood Diamonds?

Modern consumers not only demand the highest quality in the 4Cs but also care about the humanistic and ethical sourcing of their jewelry.

To ensure the ring on your finger is completely clean and free from humanitarian stains, follow these screening principles:

1. Only purchase stones with independent international certificates: Prioritize diamonds with grading reports from GIA (Gemological Institute of America) or IGI. These organizations apply strict rough stone origin tracing procedures.

2. Choose distributors committed to legitimate sourcing: Reputable dealers like Jemmia Diamond in Vietnam only import diamonds through 100% official customs declarations, strictly adhering to the Kimberley Process, ensuring transparent sourcing from legal mines worldwide.

3. Be wary of unverified “hand-carried” items: Diamonds that are unusually cheap and presented as "hand-carried" items, without clear legal invoices and documentation, are likely from the black market or illegal, rudimentary mining operations.

The consequences in Manicaland have made the role of blood diamonds increasingly obscure and unethical. Especially, smuggling and lack of certification have caused significant losses to the diamond market. Choosing diamonds without a GIA certificate is not a good choice. It condones and fuels terrifying curses, as it did to Zimbabwe with so much suffering.