PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Mugabe says diamond earnings to blunt sanctions
Harare, Zimbabwe (PANA) - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has said newly discovered diamonds in the country will help blunt Western sanctions.
The veteran leader, who turned 87 last month, accuses the West of imposing the sanctions to drive him out of power, and replace him with a puppet.
The West said the penalties were imposed in response to human rights abuses.
The sanctions include a cut-off in balance of payment and other financial support, and travel bans to Europe and the US for Mugabe and his top aides.
Speaking in the newly-discovered diamond-rich fields of Marange in the east of the country Monday, Mugabe said income from the vast gems would easily substitute the aid Zimbabwe received from the West.
Huge amounts of diamonds have been discovered in the area, with some estimates suggesting Zimbabwe will account for 25 percent of global supply at peak production.
Mugabe has barred foreign companies from the deposits, and given mining concessions to local enterprises.
"These mineral resources are for us Zimbabweans and should benefit everyone. No one will tell us what to do with our resources," he said.
"By fully exploiting the mineral resources we have in the country, we will be telling the world that we do not deserve the sanctions imposed on us. We should fully use what God gave us," he said.
Mugabe and the West have been in a stand-off for over a decade, sparked by the former's controversial seizure of White-owned farms for black resettlement.
He now plans to extend the seizures to foreign-owned companies in the country.
-0- PANA RS/SEG 1March2011
The veteran leader, who turned 87 last month, accuses the West of imposing the sanctions to drive him out of power, and replace him with a puppet.
The West said the penalties were imposed in response to human rights abuses.
The sanctions include a cut-off in balance of payment and other financial support, and travel bans to Europe and the US for Mugabe and his top aides.
Speaking in the newly-discovered diamond-rich fields of Marange in the east of the country Monday, Mugabe said income from the vast gems would easily substitute the aid Zimbabwe received from the West.
Huge amounts of diamonds have been discovered in the area, with some estimates suggesting Zimbabwe will account for 25 percent of global supply at peak production.
Mugabe has barred foreign companies from the deposits, and given mining concessions to local enterprises.
"These mineral resources are for us Zimbabweans and should benefit everyone. No one will tell us what to do with our resources," he said.
"By fully exploiting the mineral resources we have in the country, we will be telling the world that we do not deserve the sanctions imposed on us. We should fully use what God gave us," he said.
Mugabe and the West have been in a stand-off for over a decade, sparked by the former's controversial seizure of White-owned farms for black resettlement.
He now plans to extend the seizures to foreign-owned companies in the country.
-0- PANA RS/SEG 1March2011
