Cops at Marange diamond fields
legations that I was keeping gwejas (diamond dealers) at my shop.
“The charges are absurd, how can I tell whether people who hang around or frequent my shop are diamond dealers or not?” she wondered.
Investigations indicated that Mutare RDC is not accepting any new applications for shop licences.
New licences are only accepted under stringent conditions where the authority receives written recommendations from the diamond concession holders.
Mutare RDC has the sole responsibility to issue shop licences to all legal businesses in the eastern border district comprising Marange and Zimunya communal lands after paying the relevant fees and adherence to planning and health requirements.
The annual fees paid by operators in Marange could not be established as the council indicated that they vary according to business classes.
Community led audits identified up to 11 army and police bases broken down as three each in Chiadzwa and Tonhorai villages; one each in Tinoengana, Tarindwa, Chishingwi, Mkwada and Kusena villages.
The audits also identified up to six business centres, namely maSugar Sugar, maCrush, Chingome, Machangwa, Chimbiya, and Tenda with a population of over 300 small and big shops.
It was gathered through these community led audits that the various army and police bases, including ZRP Bambazonke take turns to raid the centres at least twice a week where they net up to US$6 000 in bribes.
“Bambazonke police say that they are sent by Mutare RDC to collect money for shop licences,” said Sithole.
However, inquiries with Mutare RDC chief executive officer Shepherd Chinaka indicated otherwise.
“Council has no knowledge of bribes being paid to police or army.
“We recommend those who have encountered such situations to report to the relevant authorities,” said Chinaka.
Zimbabwe National Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Alfios Makotore said any allegations with a criminal element levelled against soldiers must be directed to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
ZRP spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi issued a stern warning against rogue officers.
“ZRP is not aware,” Nyathi said. “We appeal for people to come and report those cases either in
Mutare or directly to our headquarters, so that investigations are conducted.
“If there are any members of the forces involved in any cases of corruption or (sexual) abuse, I assure you they will be dealt with accordingly.
“But firstly, we encourage those making the allegations to make formal reports.”
However, it was gathered that reports have previously been made without any arrests being made as the security agents devise means to protect the perpetrators.
“They remove or hide their force numbers when they are committing the crimes.
“If you go to report, the superiors at the bases simply remove the officer from the parade and the matter ends there.
“I think they also take advantage of us. They see us as mere villagers, who are ignorant of their rights,” said Otilia Chipise (59) of Muedzengwa village.
The villagers appealed to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to intervene and put an end to the series of sexual abuses and extortion cases in Marange involving security agents.
“I think they should be able to clearly differentiate between gwejas and bona fide villagers,” said Rosemary Changadzi of Muedzengwa village, who sells fruits and vegetables.
“We need to be protected by way of law, and IDs can be used to prove that. But the problem are the soldiers.
“They pretend to be illiterate and order you to show their bosses at the bases only for you to spend three nights there.
“So, they should be instructed that their business is not to harass members of the community before they are deployed,”
Records from the Mines ministry indicate that there is a total of 4 300 families that were up for relocation in the vast diamond concessions.
However, additional records from the Mutare district administrator’s office indicated that only 1 100 families were relocated to Arda Transau Relocation Area.
Technically, this leaves out a total of 3 200 families still trapped in the diamond fields and undergoing untold challenges at the hands of state security agents.
The Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) is on record acknowledging human rights violations by security forces.
ZCDC’s private security has undergone several human rights trainings spearheaded by the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association to better their conduct within communities.
Over the years, state security agents have been accused of gross human rights violations and fuelling organised diamond pilferage.
When ZCDC took over the former diamond fields, its former acting chief executive officer Roberto De Pretto also said while there were no security problems under their claims, serious security breaches were emanating from areas protected by state security.