By Ryan Aliman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

HARARE, Zimbabwe – Civic society organisations (CSOs) refused to accept an offer of funds from Mines Minister Obert Mpofu on the ground that this might prevent them from making the government accountable for its diamond revenues.

During a review meeting of this month’s international diamond conference in Victoria Falls, Minister Mpofu said that most of the CSO’s who criticized the country’s diamond industry were being funded by “hostile governments” and were against “national interests”.

He suggested that members of the civil society would be more approving of and cooperative with the Zimbabwean government if they were brought “on board on all issues” and a budget was prepared for them. “One who pays the piper calls the tune,” Minister Mpofu said.

“We can say all diamond producers should set aside a small levy of about 1 percent for the NGOs. As a matter of principle, to make progress we will consider some allocation from the diamond producers towards the civil society. The permanent secretary and his colleagues will work on that and I will persuade the diamond producers,” he added.

However, Minister Mpofu’s statement was met with immediate dissent and criticism from various civil society groups.

Farai Maguwu, director of a new minerals watchdog, Center for Natural Resources Governance, said accepting 1 percent of all diamond sales will “compromise [the CSO’s] neutrality.” Maguwu asserted that civil society groups need to protect and maintain their independence to be able to “criticize and pressure” the government to account for its diamond mining activities.

Other CSO’s described Minister Mpofu’s offer as an “obvious bribe”.

Centre for Community Development activist Phillip Pasirayi shot down Mpofu’s proposal saying, “we as civil society utterly reject this offer. Mpofu should be educated enough to know that civil society cannot be forced into being part of the ZANU PF patronage system. We demand accountability and we demand transparency.”

Pasirayi also questioned the motive behind Mpofu’s offer. According to him, why would the government allot diamond proceeds for civic activists “when the money is so desperately needed by other sectors of society.”

“The cash generated from diamonds should go into social services, and infrastructural development, and improving access to medical care and basic service. That is where the money should go,” Pasirayi advised.

Minister Mpofu did not take these responses well. Days after the Victoria Falls Diamond Conference, Minister Mpofu accused the CSO’s for “deliberately peddling falsehoods” and “malicious reports” on Zimbabwe’s diamond industry.

During the breakfast meeting organized by the Mines Ministry in Harare, he regarded the civic activists as “a bunch of individuals masquerading as representatives of the people” determined to undermine the government through “unjustified vilification” of the diamond industry.

“Let me warn our colleagues in civil society that if you do not want to work with us, then we will go it alone and we will be very hard on you,” Minister Mpofu threatened.

 

For further information, please see:

Associated Press – Zimbabwe: Civic groups refuse diamond money offer – 24 November 2012

All Africa – Zimbabwe: Civic Groups Walk Out After Threats By Mines Minister – 22 November 2012

All Africa – Zimbabwe: Civil Society Angered By Mpofu Diamond ‘Bribe’ – 22 November 2012

Yahoo News – Zimbabwe government stealing diamond funds: Report – 12 November 2012

Voice of America – Activists Fear Diamonds Will Fund Mugabe Power Grab – 8 November 2012

By Heba Girgis
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo—Over 100,000 refugees have fled the Democratic Republic of the Congo after a rebel takeover. The United Nations has now issued an urgent appeal to the rebels in order to get access to wounded civilians in the conflict and to the refugee camps.

A spokesperson for the rebel group, known as M23 group, said that its success operation in taking the city of Goma a few days ago is just the beginning of its efforts to take control of the country. Lt. Col. Vianney Kazarama said, “We will push on to Bukavu, then Kisangani and finally Kinshasa and overthrow the government.” Kazarama also noted that once the rebels have completely overthrown the government, they will begin the call for elections.

In the past week, the M23 rebel group has pushed its hold over the region close to the Rwanda border in order to take over the provincial capital of Goma and overthrow other government forces in other regions. Now, the rebels are reported to be moving towards the cities of Masisi and the major city Bukavi as noted by Kazarama.

The United Nations estimated about 6,700 troops backing up the government forces under a Security Council mandate to protect civilians. United Nations officials mentioned that there have been reports that many civilians face targeted killings and abductions by the rebel group. The group has vowed to oust the current government of President Joseph Kabila. Kabila has been accused of breaking a peace deal from a previous conflict in the country.

This group takes its name from a peace treaty with the government dated March 23, 2009. It was from this treaty that the group became a political party in exchange for the release of other imprisoned rebels. The leader of the group, Bosco Ntaganda, is currently wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court.

The advance of this group through the country has not only caused many deaths but has displaced tens of thousands of civilians. The movement has raised fears that a wider conflict may again erupt in this region. The government leaders made a statement to the rebels calling on them to “stop all war activities” and to “stop talk of overthrowing an elected government.”

 

For further information, please see:

Al-Jazeera – Rebels Reject DR Congo Peace Plan – 24 November 2012

BBC News – DR Congo Conflict: M23 Group Urged to Stop War – 24 November 2012

DW – Thousands Flee DR Congo in the Wake of Rebel Violence – 24 November 2012

CNN News – Rebels Threaten Wider Democratic Republic of the Congo Conflict – 21 November 2012