Police made no arrests in connection with Mabota’s death. As this report went to press, his relatives had not recovered any of the items allegedly stolen by the soldiers who tortured Mabota.103 Three middlemen who travelled to Marange on November 20, 2008, told Human Rights Watch how they had thought the military campaign was over and that it was safe to resume illicit diamond trading: We drove to Chiadzwa and, as usual, paid the police to access the diamond fields where we parked, and waited to buy diamonds the following day. At about 9 p.m., two armed soldiers knocked on our car as we slept and ordered us out of the car. They took US$2,500 that we had and three mobile phones. They beat us on the soles of our feet and on our backs using iron bars for at least three hours. Around one in the morning they released us and we drove away. We dared not file a complaint with the police for fear of further victimization.104 On November 13, 2008, five armed soldiers beat a 66-year-old man and his family in Muedzengwa village, demanding to know the whereabouts of local miners. The man told Human Rights Watch: The soldiers ordered us [seven men] to a borehole in Rombe village where they beat us using thick tree branches and took turns to immerse our heads in a water trough at the borehole saying, “If you want us to let you go, show us the local miners.”105 The man’s 16-year-old son added that when they told the soldiers that they did not know of any local miners, the soldiers became incensed and beat them more viciously for more than two hours before releasing them.106 On November 16, 2008, 14 soldiers rounded up at least 80 villagers at Muchena shopping center and demanded to know where illegal diamond miners were hiding before beating all 103 Human Rights Watch interview with lawyer M.M., Mutare, February 7, 2009. 104 Human Rights Watch interview with middlemen M.C., R.M., and J.M., Mutare, February 8, 2009. 105 Human Rights Watch interview with villager J.M., Marange, February 21, 2009. 106 Human Rights Watch interview with boy C.M., Marange, February 21, 2009. 35 Human Rights Watch | June 2009