This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/8007406.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Profiting from Zimbabwe's 'blood diamonds' | Profiting from Zimbabwe's 'blood diamonds' |
| (4 days later) | |
| A BBC investigation in Zimbabwe has uncovered evidence that senior people around President Robert Mugabe are benefiting from the sale of illegal diamonds. World Affairs Editor John Simpson has just returned from a visit to Marange, in eastern Zimbabwe, which contains the largest known concentration of diamonds in the world. | A BBC investigation in Zimbabwe has uncovered evidence that senior people around President Robert Mugabe are benefiting from the sale of illegal diamonds. World Affairs Editor John Simpson has just returned from a visit to Marange, in eastern Zimbabwe, which contains the largest known concentration of diamonds in the world. |
| Some 68 illegal diamond diggers were buried in a mass grave | Some 68 illegal diamond diggers were buried in a mass grave |
| Until six months ago the Marange diamond fields were occupied by hundreds of illegal local diggers. | Until six months ago the Marange diamond fields were occupied by hundreds of illegal local diggers. |
| The diamonds were easy to find. They either lay on the surface or just a few feet below. | The diamonds were easy to find. They either lay on the surface or just a few feet below. |
| The diggers sold them to dealers in nearby town of Mutare, who smuggled them out of the country. | The diggers sold them to dealers in nearby town of Mutare, who smuggled them out of the country. |
| Then on 31 October, we were told, the government moved in. | Then on 31 October, we were told, the government moved in. |
| Helicopter gunships, soldiers and police were sent to attack the illegal diggers. | Helicopter gunships, soldiers and police were sent to attack the illegal diggers. |
| At least 150 of them were killed. According to survivors we spoke to, some of them were set on by police dogs and torn apart. | At least 150 of them were killed. According to survivors we spoke to, some of them were set on by police dogs and torn apart. |
| Army control | Army control |
| Senior sources in the capital, Harare, insisted that an operation on this scale could only have been authorised by President Robert Mugabe himself. | Senior sources in the capital, Harare, insisted that an operation on this scale could only have been authorised by President Robert Mugabe himself. |
| Robert Mugabe's closest supporters thrive as a result of illegal diamonds | Robert Mugabe's closest supporters thrive as a result of illegal diamonds |
| Now the diamond fields at Marange are under the control of the army, and the roads around it are guarded by police road-blocks. | Now the diamond fields at Marange are under the control of the army, and the roads around it are guarded by police road-blocks. |
| It proved to be very hard for us to film the diamond fields for the BBC, though in the end we managed it. | It proved to be very hard for us to film the diamond fields for the BBC, though in the end we managed it. |
| Yet, as it turned out, the purpose of the operation was not to take over the diamond diggings in order to provide revenue for Zimbabwe's almost empty treasury. | Yet, as it turned out, the purpose of the operation was not to take over the diamond diggings in order to provide revenue for Zimbabwe's almost empty treasury. |
| Diamonds are still being dug out at Marange, but reliable sources in Zimbabwe insist that they are not appearing on the legal market. | Diamonds are still being dug out at Marange, but reliable sources in Zimbabwe insist that they are not appearing on the legal market. |
| Instead, we were told, they are still being smuggled out of the country and sold illegally. | Instead, we were told, they are still being smuggled out of the country and sold illegally. |
| 'Blood diamonds' | 'Blood diamonds' |
| So who are the beneficiaries? | So who are the beneficiaries? |
| In Harare we spoke to a former judge, who was once President Mugabe's top civil servant and played a key role in the Lancaster House negotiations in 1980 which brought about Zimbabwe's independence. | In Harare we spoke to a former judge, who was once President Mugabe's top civil servant and played a key role in the Lancaster House negotiations in 1980 which brought about Zimbabwe's independence. |
| Justice George Smith retired from the bench in 2003, and nowadays he is a consultant to Zimbabwe's diamond industry. | Justice George Smith retired from the bench in 2003, and nowadays he is a consultant to Zimbabwe's diamond industry. |
| In the current climate in Zimbabwe, it is dangerous even for a man as distinguished as Justice Smith to name names. | In the current climate in Zimbabwe, it is dangerous even for a man as distinguished as Justice Smith to name names. |
| But when I asked him if he was talking about people right at the top, he replied: "Very much so." | But when I asked him if he was talking about people right at the top, he replied: "Very much so." |
| Zimbabwe has great mineral riches, yet it has been driven almost to economic collapse. | Zimbabwe has great mineral riches, yet it has been driven almost to economic collapse. |
| One hundred trillion Zimbabwe dollars are now worth $3 (£2). | One hundred trillion Zimbabwe dollars are now worth $3 (£2). |
| Yet Robert Mugabe's closest supporters thrive as a result of illegal diamonds. | Yet Robert Mugabe's closest supporters thrive as a result of illegal diamonds. |
| Not surprisingly, people in Zimbabwe call them "blood diamonds". | Not surprisingly, people in Zimbabwe call them "blood diamonds". |