Top government ministers implicated in blood diamond deals

By Tererai Karimakwenda
17 January 2007

Joel Gabuza, chairman of the special parliamentary portfolio committee on mines, energy and the environment, has confirmed that his committee will be launching an investigation into illegal mining activities including the involvement of any top government officials. Several recent reports said top ranking members of Robert Mugabe’s cabinet were suspected of conducting shady diamond deals that had been brought to the attention of the World Diamond Council. Gabuza said he would not mention any specific names at this juncture, but any government chefs they come across in their investigations would be exposed. Gabuza said the committee would begin the probe when parliament opens in the next two weeks.

The World Diamond Council (WDC) last month revealed they were aware that top government officials in Zimbabwe were implicated in the illegal mining and smuggling of diamonds. The global watchdog said they would monitor the situation. Among those suspected is retired general Solomon Mujuru, who owns shares in River Ranch Diamond Mines. His wife, Vice-President Joice Mujuru, was not mentioned. The general is alleged to have partners that include Zanu-PF politician Tirivanhu Mudariki and other officials in the ruling party. The reports said they smuggle diamonds mined in Zimbabwe along with "blood diamonds" from the Congo and sell them to legal markets through South Africa.

The ZimOnline news site reported that authoritative sources had told them the police in Manicaland province were closing in on three senior members of the government involved in illegal mining activities. The officials’ names were withheld for legal reasons, but they were all reported to hold senior posts within Mugabe’s Cabinet. ZimOnline said the three are accused of organising villagers and teachers in Nyanga and Marange districts to conduct illegal mining activities. The stones are then smuggled to South Africa for sale as a legal product. They also reportedly paid fines for any villagers who were arrested for illegal mining. Police confirmed the investigations but gave no details.

Gabuza said there was a lot of corruption in these diamond districts.