syndicates at a time. Some local miners, however, worked independently of police syndicates.52 A member of the Police Support Unit based in Manicaland told Human Rights Watch: During the time I was based in Marange at the end of 2007, together with a colleague we controlled six syndicates with a combined total of 102 members. We would grant them access to the fields, and they would dig for diamonds while we guarded them and then hand over the diamonds to us to sell, and then we shared the proceeds equally, giving 50 percent to each side. My government salary for three months was less than US$5, but from the diamond business together with my colleague we made more than US$10,000 in three months.53 A police officer told Human Rights Watch how he was involved in illegal diamond smuggling with a foreign buyer in Marange: It was obvious to me that the man was an illegal diamond buyer. He could not speak the local language [Shona], and he stated that he was a tourist. I then told him that it was clear he had an interest in diamonds and I offered to assist him, or alternatively arrest him on the spot on charges relating to illegal diamonds trade and take him to court to explain himself. He then confessed that he had travelled from South Africa to buy diamonds on behalf of his principal, a well-known South African buyer. He said he was on his fifth trip to Marange to buy diamonds. We then agreed that he would buy diamonds only through me and that whenever he came to Marange, he would first contact me. I worked well with him, and now, although I have since left Marange, whenever he comes to buy diamonds, he first contacts me and I refer him to my trusted contacts in the police and army running syndicates in Marange at the moment.54 52 Human Rights Watch interviews with local miner S.T., Mutare, February 5, 2009; with police officer O.D., Mutare, February 21, 2009; and with headman P.M., Marange, February 20, 2009. 53 Human Rights Watch interview with police officer O.D., Mutare, February 21, 2009. 54 Human Rights Watch interview with police officer G.C., Harare, February 25, 2009. Diamonds in the Rough 22