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An interesting Panorama report on Zimbabwe’s Marange diamond fields and severe human rights violations from the BBC last night (8th August 2011).

DiamondGeezer.com recognised and drew attention to these problems and violations way back in November 2007.

Indeed there are over 65,500 references to our article from November 2007 on the ‘Net .

CLICK HERE to read our original article

Zimbabwe is home to 11.9 million people and accounts for a tiny and estimated 0.4 percent of global diamond production. This once thriving landlocked African country has become increasingly dependent on diamond exports to support its collapsed economy. Partnership Africa Canada, a leading regional NGO has reported that Zimbabwe’s diamond industry is out of control. ‘The government has expropriated diamond lands and companies without due process and awarded the prizes to ZANU-PF supporters and to the military. It has used brute force to clear the diamond fields…murdering hundreds of people in the process. Increasing military control in almost all of the diamond mines, and over the Ministry suggests that a new conflict scenario may be developing.’

DiamondGeezer.com will continue to monitor the situation very carefully.

Diamond exports jumped sharply in Botswana during August and were up by over 60 per cent year-on-year during the first eight months of 2010.

Botswana's diamond exports increased substantially year-on-year during August, new data from the country's central bank has revealed.

Figures show the African nation exported diamonds worth $290.9 million (£183.1 million) during the month, a 360.3 per cent increase on the value of the precious gems sold overseas in the same period in 2009.

The jump means for the first eight months of 2010, exports of the stones were up 62 per cent year-on-year to $1.83 billion.

This, Idex Online noted, was despite export levels declining in June and July when compared to figures from the previous year.

Last month, coordinator for Diamond Trading Company Botswana Jacob Thamage was quoted by Rapaport as saying local factories in Botswana bought rough diamonds valued at approximately $250 million in the first half of 2010, exceeding 2009's total.

The country is home to the AK6 diamond prospect, which is to be utilised by both Lucara Diamond Corp and African Diamonds after the Lucara agreed to purchase African Diamonds for C$82 million (£51 million).

Diamond exports jumped sharply in Botswana during August and were up by over 60 per cent year-on-year during the first eight months of 2010.

Botswana's diamond exports increased substantially year-on-year during August, new data from the country's central bank has revealed.

Figures show the African nation exported diamonds worth $290.9 million (£183.1 million) during the month, a 360.3 per cent increase on the value of the precious gems sold overseas in the same period in 2009.

The jump means for the first eight months of 2010, exports of the stones were up 62 per cent year-on-year to $1.83 billion.

This, Idex Online noted, was despite export levels declining in June and July when compared to figures from the previous year.

Last month, coordinator for Diamond Trading Company Botswana Jacob Thamage was quoted by Rapaport as saying local factories in Botswana bought rough diamonds valued at approximately $250 million in the first half of 2010, exceeding 2009's total.

The country is home to the AK6 diamond prospect, which is to be utilised by both Lucara Diamond Corp and African Diamonds after the Lucara agreed to purchase African Diamonds for C$82 million (£51 million).

Belgium saw a rise in imports and exports of both polished and rough diamonds during August.

Exports of polished diamonds by Belgium firms rose 25.5 per cent year-on-year during August, latest statistics have revealed.

Figures from the Antwerp World Diamond Centre showed polished precious stones sold to other countries totalled $353.8 million (£229.65 million) last month, Diamond World reports.

Exports in terms of volume were up 11 per cent year-on-year to 267,079 carats, while trade in rough diamonds was also strong, prompting the body to note demand is rising for the gems.

It said uncut diamonds exported over the period were valued at $555 million – a 37.9 per cent year-on-year increase – while the worth of imports was up 51.7 per cent to $781.8 million.

One country to have seen diamond exports decline is Botswana, with Rapaport recently reporting figures from the central bank show overseas sales were down by 56 per cent to a value of $126.1 million in July.

However, total exports for the first seven months of the year were up 31 per cent.