June 2009
1-56432-505-9
Diamonds in the Rough
Human Rights Abuses in the Marange Diamond Fields of Zimbabwe
Map of Zimbabwe and the Marange Diamond Fields ........................................................... 1
Glossary of Acronyms ......................................................................................................... 2
I. Summary ......................................................................................................................... 3
II. Recommendations .......................................................................................................... 7
To the Government of Zimbabwe ........................................................................................... 7
To the Government of South Africa ........................................................................................ 7
To the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme......................................................................8
To States and Organizations that Are Major Consumers of Rough Diamonds, including the
European Union, the United States, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and India ..........8
To the Southern African Development Community .................................................................9
To International Donors, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Other
European Union Members .....................................................................................................9
III. Methodology ............................................................................................................... 10
IV. Background .................................................................................................................. 11
Diamonds in Marange—Unclear Legal Title to the Fields ...................................................... 12
Illegal Mining and Smuggling in the Marange Diamond Fields ............................................. 14
Principal Buyers and Smuggling Routes............................................................................... 15
Laws Governing the Diamond Industry in Zimbabwe and Applicable International Standards
........................................................................................................................................... 16
V. Human Rights Abuses, Corruption, and Extortion by the Police (November 2006 to
October 2008) .................................................................................................................. 19
Corruption in Marange ........................................................................................................ 19
Police Smuggling Syndicates............................................................................................... 21
Killings by Police ................................................................................................................. 24
Arbitrary Arrests and Detentions .......................................................................................... 25
Sexual Abuse and Exploitation ............................................................................................ 27