TV producer exposes secret diamond mining by military

By Lance Guma
07 March 2007

A few days after entering a plea bargain to charges that he filmed without accreditation Peter Moyo, a producer for South African TV station e-TV, has made disclosures highlighting the dirty deals and high security networks dominating the Marange diamond fields. Speaking on our Reporters’ Forum, Moyo says the entire area is now fortified with security forces and Border Gezi trained youth militia moving around and carrying out stop and search exercises. Journalists are barred from the area.

The company that initially owned the claim was booted out and for three months the government sanctioned a free-for-all for the locals who mined the diamonds and sold to them to dealers, who it turns out are linked to senior politicians in government. Then the situation changed dramatically with the security forces taking over the mining themselves. Moyo managed to penetrate the main diamond field guarded by the CIO, CID, army and police. Along with two ZBC employees Moyo managed to access this restricted area by posing as a ZBC crew and film footage of secret digging in the field by those tasked with guarding the mine.

Moyo says the locals believe the diamonds were discovered owing to a traditional ‘bira’ undertaken by both chief Marange and chief Chiadzwa a few years ago. They are now furious that the security forces have put them on the sidelines and are looting the wealth themselves. Moyo was later arrested and charged under the draconian Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) for working without accreditation.

Instead of contesting the AIPPA charges Moyo decided to enter a ‘plea-bargain’ and admit guilt. He says he did this to save himself unnecessary hassles as the case could have taken years to complete. He had to travel 2000 kilometres by road from South Africa to Mutare every time the case was heard and this was proving costly. Each trip he says cost in excess of 5000 Rand. This he says is why he had ‘to dine with the devil as a temporary measure.’

He is currently locked in a legal battle to try and get his equipment and footage back from the authorities. Police have already defied a court directive to have this released and Moyo says he will be making an application for contempt of court later in the month.