THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT |ZIMBABWE I 2017 Violation of Rights Relating to Human Dignity and the Marange diamond fields in Manicaland province, artisanal miners trying to earn a living in Chiadzwa Right to Life have fallen victim to the brutality of security companies contracted by businesses in Chiadzwa. Villagers and artisanal miners are subjected to various forms of violations including dogs being set to maul them, unlawful arrests and detention, arrests. The arrested persons are often subjected to torture, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment, and assaults. The Forum and the Centre for Natural Resources and Governance (CNRG) documented a total of five (5) cases of murder that occurred in Chiadzwa, in the Marange diamond fields involving the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) security guards. Since the discovery of diamonds in the Marange In August 2017, Didmus Ngorima, a former ZCDC employee was shot dead and buried at his home in ward 23 in Marange after being reportedly mistaken for an illegal diamond miner as he was taking a walk near the diamond mining area. Kudzai Zambuko, Marange, Wonder Kaiza and Kudzai Bariguru were also shot and later died in hospital days after the shooting. To cover up the deaths, the bodies were taken out of the minefield in an ambulance to create an impression that they were injured and not deceased. Many villagers have been victims of violence by mining companies in the Marange area. Scan here to watch one of the victims telling his story. 3 See the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Monthly Political & Human Rights Violations Report, August 2017, available on, http://www.hrforumzim.org/publications/ 18