30 fields… [for] an [incoming] team of miners accompanying a senior ZANU PF politician or military officer. “ 126 On April 29, 2010, The Zimbabwe Independent reported that Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri had written to Mines Minister Obert Mpofu asking for a mining concession for the law enforcement agency in Marange. “Honourable minister, after scanning the environment and a thorough analysis of the opportunities available, I wish to submit the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s application for the areas in Chiadzwa, Marange, marked on the map appended to the attached company profile. I hope and trust that this application will meet with your favourable consideration.” 127 15.2 Defence Forces involvement in illegal mining and smuggling According to Human Rights Watch, “The government’s decision in October 2008 to deploy the Zimbabwe Defence Forces – which comprise the Zimbabwe National Army and the Air Force of Zimbabwe – to the Marange diamond fields appears to have been a response to the lawlessness and chaos in the fields and the police’s inability to control it…. Instead of law and order, however, HRW found that the army had committed numerous and serious human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, beatings, torture, forced labor and child labour…. The army has also been engaged fully and openly in the smuggling of diamonds…” 128 15.3 Beneficiaries of illicit diamond trade HRW’s research also suggests “that the police and military have benefited greatly from access to Marange’s mineral wealth”. Although it was not possible to trace the proceeds of the diamond sales, HRW “believes that the revenue from the gems mined by the police and military has also enriched senior ZANU PF officials and provided an important revenue stream for the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, which is underwriting ZANU PF activities as well as military operations”. 129 15.4 Role of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe HRW research notes that “the Reserve Bank, which had no legal status to buy diamonds until the end of January 2009, has been a major buyer of illegal diamonds from Marange since as early as 2006. In so doing, it violates the Precious Stones Trade Act by buying diamonds from unlicensed miners and other illegal sources…” 130 126 Human Rights Watch, ‘Diamonds in the Rough’, June 2009, pg 47: http://www.hrw.org/reports/2009/06/26/diamonds-rough 127 Zimbabwe Independent, ‘Police join diamond rush’, 29 April 2010: http://www.theindependent.co.zw/local/26335-police-join-diamond-rush-.html 128 Human Rights Watch, ‘Diamonds in the Rough’, June 2009, pg 28: http://www.hrw.org/reports/2009/06/26/diamonds-rough 129 Human Rights Watch, ‘Diamonds in the Rough’, June 2009, pg 47: http://www.hrw.org/reports/2009/06/26/diamonds-rough 130 Human Rights Watch, ‘Diamonds in the Rough’, June 2009, pg 49: