Lobby group Human Rights Watch has accused Zimbabwes army of using forced labour, including children, to mine diamonds in the east of the Southern African country, BBC reports Friday.
Local villagers who do not co-operate with the military are beaten and tortured, the US-based group says. Their report also details an alleged massacre of diamond diggers last year, after the disputed elections.
“Millions of dollars in potential government revenue are being siphoned off through illegal diamond mining”, Human Rights Watch said in a statement.
It urges the unity government to take control of the mines and use the revenue to help rebuild the country. – The police and army have turned this peaceful area into a nightmare of lawlessness and horrific violence, Human Rights Watchs Africa director Georgette Gagnon said. said.
According to the report, the situation has not changed since the former opposition joined the government four months ago.
Human Rights Watch claims control of the mines is part of a systematic attempt by President Robert Mugabes Zanu-PF party to buy support from the military. The diamond fields in Marange were seized just one month after the power-sharing deal was first agreed in September 2008.
