that they would get special allowances directly from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and then be offered a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity to benefit directly from diamond smuggling.167 Because of the lack of transparency in diamond mining and marketing, Human Rights Watch was unable to verify the bank’s transactions. The onus is on the RBZ to account for the diamonds it illegally bought in Marange and to be transparent about the use of revenue it received from Marange diamond sales. Not doing so compromises and severely undermines both the Kimberley Process and Zimbabwe’s own laws. Response to Allegations of Human Rights Abuse and Illegal Diamond Trading from the Government of Zimbabwe Zimbabwean officials deny human rights abuses, smuggling, and even the presence of soldiers in Marange.168 However, the former provincial governor of Manicaland, Chris Mushohwe, admitted in May 2007 that the diamond rush had, to a large extent, benefitted certain individuals and not the country at large.169 In November 2008 the Zimbabwe National Army, through its spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Simon Tsatsi, denied any involvement in Chiadzwa: As far as we are concerned, we have not been deployed in the Chiadzwa [Marange] diamond field. That is a police operation and the police can enlist the Air Force when they deem fit.170 Zimbabwe’s minister of mines, Obert Mpofu, in what might have been an unguarded moment, recently admitted while addressing police recruits at a police training center in Bulawayo that the army, CIO, and police were deployed in Marange and were now resisting transfer. He said the reason that they did not want to leave is because they are involved in corrupt activities and are looting diamonds, which they are selling to foreigners from South Africa and Nigeria.171 167 Ibid. 168 “Chiadzwa: Army sent in to quell gun battles,” Zimbabwe Financial Gazette, November 13, 2008. 169 Quoted in Lloyd Sachikonye, Diamonds in Zimbabwe: A Situational Analysis, p. 15. 170 “Chiadzwa: Army sent in to quell gun battles,” Zimbabwe Financial Gazette, November 13, 2008. 171 “Police, Soldiers resist transfer from Chiadzwa,” March 22, 2009, http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/mar23_2009.html#Z6 (accessed April 16, 2009). 51 Human Rights Watch | June 2009