33 1980s”.140 In September last year, Gukurahundi was finally classified as a genocide by the internationally-recognised group Genocide Watch. 16.2 Operation Chikorokoza Chapera – November 2006 In Marange from November 2006, “police were responsible for serious abuses – including killings, torture, beatings, and harassment…. Miners described colleagues being buried alive. A police officer working with a reaction team told Human Rights Watch (HRW) of orders from senior officers to ‘shoot on sight’ miners found in the diamond fields. Villagers described arbitrary arrests, beatings and harassment that by May 2008 had swamped the local prison with 1,600 prisoners, 1,300 more than its capacity.” 141 Between November 1 and November 12, 107 bodies, many with visible bullet wounds, were brought from Marange to the morgue at Mutare Hospital. 142 Corruption, extortion and the smuggling of diamonds was also rife and the police, many of whom were corrupt, set up checkpoints to restrict access to the Marange area. 143 16.3 Operation Hakudzokwi – October 27, 2008 Two years after the illegal panning operation began, the policing of the diamond fields was disintegrating into anarchy; the country was virtually bankrupt and the poorly-paid armed forces were disgruntled and restive, posing a growing threat to ZANU PF’s hold on power. It was time for another “operation”. Planned by military intelligence to reward and appease the rank and file, this was an army operation that lasted for three devastating weeks. Known as Operation Hakudzokwi (No Return), it was a period of incomprehensible violence and cruelty. Soldiers told HRW that there were “incentive packages [which] came in two parts. Soldiers on mission in Marange would get special allowances direct from the Reserve Bank and then be offered a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity to benefit directly from diamond smuggling. 144 Operation Hakudzokwi began suddenly around 7am on October 27. “Five military helicopters with mounted automatic rifles flew over the Chiadzwa and began driving out local miners. On the 140 SW Radio Africa, ‘Evidence of Chiadzwa massacre could be used to prosecute Mugabe’, 10 August 2011 http://www.swradioafrica.com/news100811/evidence100811.htm 141 Human Rights Watch, ‘Diamonds in the Rough’, June 2009, pg 4: http://www.hrw.org/reports/2009/06/26/diamonds-rough 142 Human Rights Watch, ‘Diamonds in the Rough’, June 2009, pg 4: http://www.hrw.org/reports/2009/06/26/diamonds-rough 143 Human Rights Watch, ‘Diamonds in the Rough’, June 2009, pg 19: http://www.hrw.org/reports/2009/06/26/diamonds-rough 144 Human Rights Watch, ‘Diamonds in the Rough’, June 2009, pg 29: http://www.hrw.org/reports/2009/06/26/diamonds-rough