Belgium surprised many a people last month when it lobbied its fellow European Union members to lift sanctions imposed on a diamond mining company owned by the Zimbabwean government.
The Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) operates five diamond mines in Marange, some of them in partnership with foreign firms from China and South Africa, just to mention but two.
The European Union slapped sanctions on President Robert Mugabe and individuals as well companies (including ZMDC) aligned to his political inner circle for allegedly committing gross human rights abuses.
Although diamonds in Marange were discovered after the sanctions had already been put in place for about six years, companies that operated in the diamond fields were included on the trade embargo list, as the EU argued that diamond funds were being used to prop up President Mugabe’s party.
It also accused the Zimbabwean government (then exclusively run by Zanu PF) of committing human rights abuses in Marange when it drove away artisanal miners that had invaded the area following a diamond rush in 2006.
Belgium, home to the world's largest diamond trading hub, Antwerp, argued that the situation in Marange had changed and sanctions on the (ZMDC) were no longer justified.
It further stated that the Kimberley Process had certified Marange gems as compliant.
"Experience has shown that, in this particular case, sanctions are counter-productive by diverting diamonds to less transparent markets," the country’s Foreign ministry said last month.
However, the EU did not take away the albatross around ZMDC’s neck when it met to review the sanctions on 18 February.
It said that sanctions on ZMDC would be maintained until the country conducts free and fair elections later in the year.
"We have shown by removing some individuals from the sanctions and travel ban that we will reward progress but also that we will keep certain measures in place including the listing of ZMDC for the duration of the coming election campaign,” said UK Foreign Secretary William Hague.
"We want to see a properly conducted [Constitution] referendum and we want to see credible and properly conducted elections in Zimbabwe."
The Constitution referendum was due this month while general elections were expected in July.
Given that some non-governmental organisations had been accusing ZMDC of bankrolling Zanu PF, it was quite axiomatic that the EU wanted to see if this would happen before it lifts the sanctions imposed on the company.
What was of interest, however, was the rationale behind Belgium’s drive to have sanctions on Marange diamonds lifted.
Surely, it had nothing to do with KP having given a clean bill of health on the companies operating in the diamond fields.
If that was the case, as it made us to believe, then why did it take so long for Belgium to have this Damascus realization?
KP gave Zimbabwe a carte blanche to trade its gems in November 2011.
Is it not that the EU meets every year to review sanctions on Zimbabwe? So why did Belgium raise the issue in 2013?
An argument, which I found to hold much water, was made by one Zimbabwean political analyst, Tanonoka Hwande.
He argued that Belgium was worried about the way the Indian and Chinese (I add United Arab Emirates) companies were benefiting from Marange diamonds.
This makes sense, given that Belgium, as a major dealer in diamonds would obviously want to benefit as well from Marange diamonds.
There was an African adage, which says that is the bachelor that good that he offers himself to clear the mucus in the nose of a single mother’s child?
This resonates well with the manner Belgium had conducted itself over Marange sanctions.
Some diamond companies with mines in southern Africa carry out auctions in Antwerp and Zimbabwean firms could have been doing the same if it was not of the sanctions that bar them from accessing European markets.
In a nutshell, Belgium’s motive had been clearly guided by its commercial interests not politics.
Sadly the political interests of the United Kingdom - which in the first instance had a political (or diplomatic) spat with Harare over land and later roped in others - ruled the day.
Oh cry Antwerp!
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
