Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) Director Farai Maguwu has refuted claims by the United States government to ban the Marange diamonds on the basis of reports of forced labour in their extraction.

Maguwu said his organisation has been working in Marange and is not aware of cases of forced labour.

“I wish to make it clear that as leader of one of the organizations doing human rights work in Marange, we are NOT aware of cases of forced labour in Marange. This is mainly because artisanal miners go to Marange voluntarily. We have raised serious concerns with human rights of artisanal miners and the wider Marange community but in our analysis these do NOT amount to forced labour. Our work is guided by high ethical standards and as such we would never issue unverified information,” said Maguwu while posting on Twitter.

Yesterday, the US government shocked many when it announced a ban on the sale of Marange diamonds citing issues of forced labour in Marange.

According to the US Customs and Border Protection the ban was based on information obtained that indicates that the products are produced in whole or in part using forced labor.

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued five Withhold Release Orders (WROs) covering five different products, imported from five different countries yesterday, September 30. This action was based on information obtained and reviewed by CBP that indicates that the products are produced, in whole or in part, using forced labor,” reads part of the communication.