IDEX Online quotes a new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) which accuses the Zimbabwe Defense Force of reinforcing troops at the Chiadzwa diamond fields in the Marange District. The Kimberley Process (KP) recently called for the suspension of Zimbabwe for six months, due to the army's presence and alleged brutal human rights abuses in the diamond fields.



The HRW now states that the Zimbabwe government has sanctioned human rights abuses throughout and even worsened them.



Last month a KP delegation visited the Marange diamond district to assess compliance with the organization's standards and reported numerous violations.



IDEX Online quoted Mines Minister, Obert Mpofu as saying that the Zimbabwe army would commence with a phased withdrawal from the Marange diamond fields. Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at Human Rights Watch, stated: “Not only has Zimbabwe refused to move the military out of Marange, but it has rotated new units in. The human rights abuses and smuggling are continuing, and witnesses to earlier abuses are being harassed and threatened."



The KP gave Zimbabwe a July 20 deadline to introduce changes in its method of controlling the area, including a withdrawal of all military forces, which the delegation discovered were illegally mining and selling diamonds.