Financial Gazette (Harare)
27 June 2009
Mutare — The illicit trade in diamonds has surged dramatically in this eastern border city amid reports senior police officers and soldiers have formed syndicates with wealthy foreign buyers and illegal miners to smuggle the precious gems from Chiadzwa in Marange.
The practice had stopped about six months ago after the army launched a campaign to flush out illegal miners and traders from the diamond rich area.
Human rights campaigners estimate scores of people died during the campaign dubbed Operation Hakudzokwi.
Government has denied any killings in the easterly Marange diamond fields.
But illegal miners and foreign buyers have once again found their way back to Chiadzwa and are operating at full throttle courtesy of the syndicates they have formed with alleged senior army personnel and police officers.
Police sources this week revealed foreign buyers were enjoying the protection of named police officers.
The foreign buyers are said to be from countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the west African states of Guinea and Nigeria, Lebanon and Israel.
"These foreigners are enjoying unfettered access to Chiadzwa because they enjoy maximum protection from senior police officers and some in the army," said a junior police officer based at Mutare Central Police Station.
The emergence of the syndicates come as the government is raising concern over the increased smuggling of precious gems from Chiadzwa.
Daring dealers from Mutare and Harare are also part of the cartels that have emerged over the past month, said police sources.
Giles Mutsekwa, co-Minister of Home Affairs in the inclusive government, at the weekend promised to take action to stop the illegal mining and smuggling of diamonds from Chiadzwa.
He said he would soon consult his co-Minister, Kembo Mohadi, on the course of action to take.
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