They
also
accuse
the
ZCDC
of
torturing
artisanal
diamond
miners
in
the
Marange
diamond
fields,
as
a
punishment
for
alleged
illegal
mining.
In
a
press
statement
(published
on
14
February)
they
highlight
the
case
of
Abel
Mutindindi,
described
as
“the
latest
victim
to
die
at
the
hands
of
ZCDC
guards”.
They
say
he
was
chased,
beaten
and
had
dogs
set
on
him
as
he
panned
for
diamonds
on
28
January.
Eight
groups,
including
the
National
Mine
Workers
Union
of
Zimbabwe,
Zimbabwe
Artisanal
Miners
Association
and
Zimbabwe
Diamond
Workers
Union
call
on
ZCDC
to
publicly
acknowledge
their
culpability
in
Mutindindi’s
death.
They
make
a
series
of
additional
demands,
that
includes
sending
all
ZCDC
security
personnel
for
human
rights
training,
and
conducting
a
voluntary
human
rights
audit
to
understand
the
extent
and
nature
of
ZCDC
human
rights
violations.
In
response
to
the
allegations,
ZCDC
spokesperson
Sugar
Changonda
said:
“I
wish
to
acknowledge
receipt
of
your
communication,
however,
please
note
that
this
matter
is
being
handled
by
the
ZRP
(Zimbabwe
Republic
Police)
who
are
carrying
out
investigations.
In
this
scope,
it
is
appropriate
that
we
refer
you
to
them.”
The
ZCDC
started
operations
in
February
2016
as
part
of
a
government
initiative
aimed
at
enhancing
transparency
and
accountability
in
the
diamond
sector.
Zimbabwe,
the
world’s
seventh
biggest
diamond
producing
nation,
recorded
an
output
of
4.9m
carats,
according
to
Kimberley
Process
data
for
2023,
valued
at
$303m.
It
exported
5.6m
carats
valued
at
$297m.
In
2023
the
US
sanctioned
Zimbabwe’s
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa
for
human
rights
abuses,
corruption
and
smuggling
gold
and
diamonds.
Mnangagwa,
81,
who
has
held
office
since
2017,
insists
the
claims
against
him
are
“defamatory”
and
“malicious”.
File
pic
shows
artisanal
miners
in
Marange.
Post
published
in:
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