Zimbabwe Parliamentarians to visit contentious diamond fields

Permission to access contentious diamond fields in eastern Zimbabwe was finally granted to the country's lawmakers, marking the first time such access has been given since mining operations commenced in 2009, Voice of America reported cited by Israelidiamond.co.il.
The Zimbabwean parliamentary mines committee will appraise the mining operations in the controversial Marange diamond fields. In the past, committee members have voiced concern over potential violations of the country's labor laws by foreign investors.
Mines Committee Chairman Edward Chindori Chininga told Voice of America that the parliamentarians would observe operations, sales, and security in the fields.
Center for Research and Development Director Farai Maguwu praised news of the upcoming visit and added that it would have been preferable if the committee had paid a visit even earlier. Maguwu voiced hope that the visit would not be a mere formality, but instead the first of many visits to oversee operations in Marange, and expressed concern over possible negative implications for democratic governance in Zimbabwe.