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Eerie silence at Zimbabwe diamond mine Eerie silence at Zimbabwe mine
(about 6 hours later)
By David Farira Mutare, Zimbabwe Diamond dealers flocked from all over the world to the fields - until an alleged brutal security forces crackdown By David Farira Mutare, Zimbabwe
Godwin Muti was one of the first people to descend on Chiadzwa when word spread that diamonds had been discovered in the arid and impoverished part of Manicaland Province. Godwin Muti was one of the first people to descend on Chiadzwa when word spread that diamonds had been discovered in the arid and impoverished part of eastern Zimbabwe.
Mr Muti, 31, an unemployed father-of-two, was wallowing in poverty. He could hardly pay rent for a one-room house where he lodged in the old township of Sakubva in Mutare city.Mr Muti, 31, an unemployed father-of-two, was wallowing in poverty. He could hardly pay rent for a one-room house where he lodged in the old township of Sakubva in Mutare city.
When word reached him about the discovery of diamonds in Chiadzwa, Mr Muti joined thousands of other desperate miners in the rush to Chiadzwa, then an unknown and desolate place. Teachers abandoned classrooms to join the diamond rush - their pupils followed
When he heard about the diamonds, he joined thousands of others in the rush to Chiadzwa, then an unknown and desolate place.
A few months later his life had been transformed.A few months later his life had been transformed.
Suddenly he living in the middle-class suburb of Dangamvura, the proud owner of a Sedan 323 car and a number of homes that had been beyond his wildest dreams. Suddenly he was living in the middle-class suburb of Dangamvura, the proud owner of a sedan car and a number of homes that had been beyond his wildest dreams.
The hospital said their mortuary is not working well and the piling of bodies is straining their facilities Police spokesman Dealers flocked to Mutare from all over the world, including South Africa, Mozambique, Nigeria, Guinea, Mauritania, Lebanon, Iraq, Israel and Belgium.
Once Mr Muti got the diamonds from the fields he could immediately sell them to buyers readily available close to the fields. So once Mr Muti got the diamonds from the fields he could immediately sell them.
Dealers flocked from all over the world, including South Africa, Mozambique, Nigeria, Guinea, Mauritania, Lebanon, Iraq, Israel and Belgium.
They were prepared to part with as much as $200 (£134) per carat - a handsome price considering panners could sell stones up to 15 carats.They were prepared to part with as much as $200 (£134) per carat - a handsome price considering panners could sell stones up to 15 carats.
Mr Muti's only problem was the police and their dogs that would constantly chase him and his fellow miners from the fields.Mr Muti's only problem was the police and their dogs that would constantly chase him and his fellow miners from the fields.
The lure of gems, and making a fortune, tempts miners to pan illegally About 20,000 panners rushed to the diamond fields
But Mr Muti, and thousands of others, soon found a way round that obstacle - they formed syndicates with the police officers manning the fields.But Mr Muti, and thousands of others, soon found a way round that obstacle - they formed syndicates with the police officers manning the fields.
Suddenly, poor police officers earning less than $10 (£7) a month were driving new cars too.Suddenly, poor police officers earning less than $10 (£7) a month were driving new cars too.
The authorities launched several operations to rid Chiadzwa of illegal miners but the hunt for precious gems continued unabated.The authorities launched several operations to rid Chiadzwa of illegal miners but the hunt for precious gems continued unabated.
Then two weeks ago Mr Muti was surprised to see helicopters hovering over the diamond fields. Then heavily-armed soldiers arrived. Then three weeks ago Mr Muti was surprised to see helicopters hovering over the diamond fields. Then heavily armed soldiers arrived.
That was the beginning of a brutal campaign to remove illegal miners and the diamond-dealers once and for all.That was the beginning of a brutal campaign to remove illegal miners and the diamond-dealers once and for all.
It was dubbed Hakudzokwi kumunda, meaning "Operation you would never go back to the diamond fields".It was dubbed Hakudzokwi kumunda, meaning "Operation you would never go back to the diamond fields".
Scattered bodiesScattered bodies
Reports then began to filter through that bodies of dead panners were piling up at the mortuary in Mutare Provincial Hospital.Reports then began to filter through that bodies of dead panners were piling up at the mortuary in Mutare Provincial Hospital.
Earlier this week 20 decomposing bodies at the facility had not been claimed. The hospital said their mortuary is not working well and the piling of bodies is straining their facilities Police spokesman Brian Makomeke
Last week 20 decomposing bodies at the facility had not been claimed.
This prompted the police to make a public appeal to relatives with missing loved-ones to visit the mortuary.This prompted the police to make a public appeal to relatives with missing loved-ones to visit the mortuary.
Police spokesman in Manicaland, Inspector Brian Makomeke, said: "The hospital authorities have said their mortuary is not working well and the piling of bodies is straining their facilities. "The hospital authorities have said their mortuary is not working well and the piling of bodies is straining their facilities," said police spokesman in Manicaland, Inspector Brian Makomeke.
About 20,000 panners rushed to the diamond fields
"Some of the deceased panners might be foreigners and we are not sure because they had no form of identification.""Some of the deceased panners might be foreigners and we are not sure because they had no form of identification."
An unknown number of bodies were scattered in the forests surrounding the fields. Several had died from gunshot wounds while others had succumbed to diseases like cholera.An unknown number of bodies were scattered in the forests surrounding the fields. Several had died from gunshot wounds while others had succumbed to diseases like cholera.
About 20,000 illegal panners, who had come from all over Zimbabwe to make the diamond fields their permanent homes, fled in all directions.About 20,000 illegal panners, who had come from all over Zimbabwe to make the diamond fields their permanent homes, fled in all directions.
'Hell on earth''Hell on earth'
Within a week of the operation there was not a single miner left in the diamonds fields.Within a week of the operation there was not a single miner left in the diamonds fields.
Mr Muti was lucky to escape unhurt. But he says it was hell and vowed not to return to the fields as long as the soldiers are there.Mr Muti was lucky to escape unhurt. But he says it was hell and vowed not to return to the fields as long as the soldiers are there.
Teachers abandoned classrooms to join the diamond rush - their pupils followed Factories were left with skeleton staff at the height of the diamond rush
"I thank my gods I escaped unhurt," he said. "It was hell on earth. The soldiers are shooting to kill." "I thank my gods I escaped unhurt," he says.
"It was hell on earth. The soldiers are shooting to kill."
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition is calling for the alleged violations to be documented so the perpetrators can be brought to justice once normality returns to the country.Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition is calling for the alleged violations to be documented so the perpetrators can be brought to justice once normality returns to the country.
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights accused the army of heavy-handed tactics to remove the illegal miners.Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights accused the army of heavy-handed tactics to remove the illegal miners.
And the regional co-ordinator of ZimRights, Reverend Stephen Maengamhura, accused the authorities of "a wholesale violation of rights".And the regional co-ordinator of ZimRights, Reverend Stephen Maengamhura, accused the authorities of "a wholesale violation of rights".
Mr Muti said: "I am not employed and this was my only means of survival. I may now be forced to sell what I bought when I was in Chiadzwa." "I am not employed and this was my only means of survival," Mr Muti says.
Factories were left with skeleton staff at the height of the diamond rush Why should I suffer when I can easily go to Chiadzwa and become a rich person? Former maths teacher Moses Mawire "I may now be forced to sell what I bought when I was in Chiadzwa."
His story is similar to that of thousands of other desperate Zimbabweans who descended on Chiadzwa, seeking instant fortunes.His story is similar to that of thousands of other desperate Zimbabweans who descended on Chiadzwa, seeking instant fortunes.
Teachers, especially those in schools close to the diamond fields, abandoned their classrooms to join the diamond rush - their pupils followed.Teachers, especially those in schools close to the diamond fields, abandoned their classrooms to join the diamond rush - their pupils followed.
Even factories and industries were left with skeleton staff after workers downed tools and headed for Chiadzwa.Even factories and industries were left with skeleton staff after workers downed tools and headed for Chiadzwa.
Moses Mawire, 37, a senior mathematics teacher at a secondary school close to Chiadzwa, has not reported to duty for almost a year now.Moses Mawire, 37, a senior mathematics teacher at a secondary school close to Chiadzwa, has not reported to duty for almost a year now.
"Why should I suffer when I can easily go to Chiadzwa and become a rich person?" Mr Mawire said."Why should I suffer when I can easily go to Chiadzwa and become a rich person?" Mr Mawire said.
The reporter's name has been changed for his own protection. The reporter's name and those of the diamond miners have been changed for their protection.