Few outsiders have penetrated the closely guarded diamond fields in Marange. But Human Rights Watch researchers repeatedly travelled to this area in eastern Zimbabwe and interviewed dozens of people. We documented the killing of more than 200 people by Zimbabwe's military, as well as torture and the use of forced labor, including children, in the diamond fields.
Who benefits from Zimbabwe's diamond wealth? Mostly members of the military, corporate officials in league with the government, and the men in President Robert Mugabe's inner circle. The revenue helps them hold onto power in the face of international sanctions.
The body that monitors the diamond trade, and is charged with shutting down trade in “blood diamonds,” is the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. So far, it has failed to take action against Zimbabwe.
Tell Kimberley Process member states that they need to take action to end the smuggling of blood diamonds and stop the human rights abuses at the Marange diamond fields.
Photo: Groups of miners in the diamond fields in Marange in 2006. © 2006 Associated Press
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