SW Radio Africa (London)
Alex Bell
15 September 2009
The military's brutal grip on the diamond fields in Chiadzwa, which has continued despite an international report recommending the demilitarisation of the zone, has resulted in yet another death reportedly at the hands of soldiers based there.
According to the Mutare based Centre for Research and Development, soldiers based in Chiadzwa kidnapped, tortured and murdered an apparent 'illegal' diamond panner over a week ago. The man, Moreblessing Tirivangani from Harare died on Sunday 6th September after he was apparently beaten by soldiers throughout the previous night. The Centre for Research and Development has reported that police, who transported Tirivangani's body to the Mutare General Hospital Mortuary, were ordered to report that Tirivangani 'had tried to disarm a soldier.'
"This is highly untrue given that soldiers always move around in pairs or more. Also given the general fear among the people with regard to soldiers, it is very unthinkable that a civilian can try to disarm a soldier in a highly militarised zone like Chiadzwa," the Centre reported.
David Morton/IRIN
Illegal mineral panners in Zimbabwe
The Mutare based organisation also reported there was evidence that Tirivangani had been tortured, with multiple bruising in stripe patterns across his body, and a plastic covering over his nose.
The death followed a visit by the Commander of the army Lieutenant General Philip Valerio Sibanda, who visited the diamond fields in the company of senior military personnel on the 3rd of September. It's understood that a violent 'clean up' operation to drive out diamond panners from the diamond fields was carried out by the military ahead of Sibanda's visit. But while Sibanda's visit lasted just a few hours, the operation has reportedly continued. Meanwhile the military reportedly imposed an illegal curfew around Chiadzwa during the operation. For several days Chiadzwa residents could not enter or leave their area due to the curfew. The Centre for Research and Development said that several people failed to travel to Mutare to seek medical attention and other essential services due to the illegal curfew.
The continued militirisation of the diamond fields has been in direct contravention of recommendations made earlier this year by a delegation from the Kimberley Process (KP), the international body tasked with stopping the trade in blood diamonds. The group was shamed into sending the review mission after receiving widespread accounts by Human Rights Groups of violence, torture, child labour and murder at the diamond fields last year. Survivors of the military violence have reported mass deaths at the hands of soldiers in 2008, after the military was ordered to 'clean up' the area.
The KP delegation found evidence of serious non-compliance with minimum diamond trade standards, as well as dramatic human rights abuse. The testimony of some victims was reportedly so poignant that the Liberian team leader left one of the meetings in tears. The team's interim report, which was leaked to the media and is yet to be officially published, recommended Zimbabwe's suspension from the regulatory body. But the suspension recommendation was quickly denounced by the Kimberley Process Chair who told reporters in Harare, before the team's report had even been completed, that suspension would never happen. Under pressure, he has since denied that he ever made the statement.
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