On Sunday, within the scope of the Rapaport press conference held at the JCK Las Vegas Show, Zimbabwe's human rights activist Farai Maguwu got an award "In recognition of his bravery and selfless sacrifice on behalf of artisanal diggers of Zimbabwe" bestowed by Martin Rapaport, Chairman of the Rapaport Group.
In his speech, reviewing the most important developments in the diamond industry Martin Rapaport said that Farai Maguwu has been at the forefront of human rights advocacy in Zimbabwe and risked his life and freedom to inform the world of the horrific human rights abuses taking place in the Marange diamond fields.
"He said to people that they've been killing people here in these diamond fields. As a reward for doing that he was arrested and risked his life," Martin Rapaport, Chairman of the Rapaport Group noted.
"My home is situated about 17 km North of the Marange diamond fields which are estimated to have more than 20 percent of the world's supply of diamonds," Farai Maguwu said.
"The problems associated with Marange diamonds are far from over. Our biggest problem at the moment is to ensure that the money from the diamonds which are mined from Marange goes to the treasury, and the Zimbabwean population benefit from the export of these diamonds," Farai Maguwu added.
Olga Patseva, Editor in Chief of the American Bureau, Rough&Polished
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