Newsreel 04.11.09
SW Radio Africa News stories for Wednesday 04 November
Zim diamond ban ‘unlikely’ as gov argues lack of evidence
The government’s delegation to the annual meeting of the Kimberley Process (the regulatory body tasked with ending the global trade in conflict diamonds) has said there is a lack of evidence to support claims of human rights abuses at the Chiadzwa diamond fields. There are now fears that a hoped-for ban on Zimbabwe’s diamonds is unlikely.
Online petition to ban Zim diamonds launched
The pressure from human rights groups and NGOs across the world is building on the Kimberley Process, to ban Zimbabwe from the international diamond trade. A decision is expected from the regulatory body on Thursday, prompting an online petition to be widely circulated across the world calling for a ban.
Party delegations head to Maputo for SADC Troika summit
On Thursday Zimbabwe’s political stand-off will be tabled before a SADC Troika summit in Maputo, Mozambique. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his delegation left Harare Wednesday morning, flying to Maputo via Johannesburg. Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara and his negotiators also left Harare for Maputo Wednesday.
‘Warthog’ grounds Air Zimbabwe plane
There was panic amongst passengers when an Air Zimbabwe plane was forced to make an emergency stop on the runaway on Tuesday night, after it allegedly ‘hit a warthog’ at Harare International Airport. Air Zimbabwe CEO, Peter Chikumba, said the Bulawayo bound flight ‘hit a warthog on the runway and was forced to make an emergency brakes stop.’
