A British member of parliament has claimed that some military personnel in Zimbabwe have formed syndicates of “illegal diamond panners” in Marange that they protect and escort while smuggling diamonds into Mozambique.
Newsday quoted Peter Hain as saying in the British Parliament that the syndicates were lining their pockets with diamond profits.
He said the European Union should extend the targeted sanctions still in place against President Robert Mugabe and top Zanu PF officials to include the “mafia” controlling the diamond fields.
“Nearly every soldier in Marange is involved in one way or the other in illegal mining. Soldiers have formed syndicates of diamond panners whom they then protect and escort,” he said.
“Many of the diamonds are smuggled into Mozambique, to the town of Vila de Manica only 12 miles (19,2km) from the Zimbabwe border.”
Hain also said that several government officials were behind illicit diamond deals in Zimbabwe.
However, Zimbabwe’s Mines minister Obert Mpofu denied the allegations saying all diamond deals in Marange were above board.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
