The Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) has refuted claims by the United States of America that mining of rough diamonds in Marange is done using forced labour.
MMCZ general manager, Tongai Muzenda, asked how Zimbabweans could be “forced” to work when they are actually looking for jobs. He said:
We are also surprised by the allegations that there could be forced labour in Chiadzwa. One would have thought that ordinarily, Zimbabweans are looking for jobs, therefore where would the ‘forced’ aspect be coming from?
On 30 September 2019, the United States issued a Withhold Release Order preventing the importation of rough diamonds from Marange. Washington banned the diamonds alleging that they were produced using forced labour.