As the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme concludes its 2015 Intersessional meeting in the Angolan Capital, Luanda this week, it is time again to evaluate the social costs of diamond mining to the Marange community. It is also time to ask about the relevance of the Kimberly Process to the communities affected by both direct and structural violence due to diamond mining. In Zimbabwe illicit trade in Marange diamonds widened the inequality gap between the rich and poor; men and women. A decision made to relocate more than 1400 villagers from their homeland to a government farm 40KM away has increased the vulnerability of this community, particularly women, children and the disabled, sick and elderly. The future of Marange villagers remain uncertain. Majority of the victims of Marange displacements are women and children. Some industry players market diamonds as a woman’s best friend. To some extend yes, this is true of the women who live at the other end of the diamond value chain. However It will be hard to find a Marange woman who sees a diamond as her best friend. But the challenge is how to bring the woman with a love for diamonds into contact with the woman in Marange. If woman fully understand the plight of the woman in Marange they will start thinking seriously about the source of diamonds.
