investigate.43 The team visited a few farms in Mashonaland West province and ordered farm invasions to end.44 However, the ZANU-PF-aligned invaders ignored that directive. As of August 2009, violent farm invasions by those with affiliations to ZANU-PF continue. In open defiance of both the political directive and the rule of law, the owner of Mount Carmel farm, one of the farms that the ministerial fact-finding team visited, was forcibly evicted from his farm soon after the ministerial team had left. No arrests have yet been made.45 Police have refused to investigate or take any effective steps against the invaders, either to arrest them or to protect farm owners.46 Ongoing Human Rights Abuses in the Marange Diamond Fields Human Rights Watch has documented serious human rights violations perpetrated by Zimbabwe’s security forces in the Marange diamond fields since November 2006.47 Zimbabwe’s armed forces, under the firm control of ZANU-PF, seized power in the diamond fields in late October 2008, a month after the signing of the power-sharing agreement, after killing more than 200 people.48 The government of Zimbabwe has failed to remove its armed forces from the diamond fields and to end related human rights violations there despite calls by the global diamond industry body, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), for the government to take corrective action by July 20, 2009, or face suspension from the KPCS.49 Human Rights Watch found that instead of removing security forces from Marange and reforming its internal diamond industry, the government of Zimbabwe has rotated new army units into Marange to maintain its control. Human rights violations and smuggling continue, and witnesses to earlier abuses are being harassed and threatened.50 Human Rights Watch continues to receive reports of serious human rights abuses in Marange; however, due to tighter military security, it has become increasingly difficult to access information. 43 “Ministers hang heads in shame at farm,” Zimbabwe Times, April 17, 2009, http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=15303 (accessed April 27, 2009). 44 Ibid. 45 “Mutambara reads the riot act,” Zimbabwe Times, April 20, 2009, http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=15445 (accessed May 18, 2009). 46 Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Political Violence Report, April 2009. 47 See Human Rights Watch, Diamonds in the Rough. 48 Ibid. 49 “Zimbabwe: Military Sustains Grip on Diamond Fields,” Human Rights Watch news release, August 6, 2009, http://www.hrw.org/node/84955. 50 Human Rights Watch telephone interviews with Mutare-based civil society representatives F.M., E.M., P.M., and J.M., August 1, 2009. False Dawn 12