Below is the an update on a Press Statement released by civil society organizations urging ZCDC to respond and deal decisively with accusation of extrajudicial punishment of artisanal miners captured in its concessions and the response by the firm.
The Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) spokesperson Sugar Changonda, response to an enquiry on the matter, acknowledges with out accepting culpability nor providing details on how the firm handles security breaches by artisanal miners.
In a inquiry, submitted by the Centre for Natural Resources Governance (CNRG) the state owned diamond miner was asked to comment on allegations of human rights abuses levelled against its security personnel. The inquiries were raised in the wake of the death of artisanal miner Abel Mutindindi, who succumbed to injuries from alleged torture by security guards in Marange.
The company in reaction on the circumstances surrounding Mutindindi’s death, provided a cryptic answer- referring the matter to the police and failed to address how it handles security breaches and the measures it has in place to prevent human rights abuses of captured artisanal miners.
Mr Chagonda responded, “I wish to acknowledge receipt of your communication, however, please note that this matter is being handled by the ZRP who are carrying out investigations. In this scope, it is appropriate that we refer you to them.“
A coalition of Zimbabwean civil society organizations recently condemned the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) for its alleged involvement in human rights abuses, including killings and torture of artisanal diamond miners in Marange.
Read full statement in the link : https://cnrgzim.org/news/civil-society-organizations-expose-zcdc-human-rights-violations-call-for-an-end-to-torture-and-brutality-against-artisanal-miners/
According to the organizations, ZCDC security guards have killed scores of Zimbabwean citizens since the company began operations in 2015. The latest victim is Abel Mutindindi, who died on January 30, 2025, after being allegedly captured, assaulted, and tortured by ZCDC guards.
The organizations claim that Mutindindi was chased by ZCDC guards, forced into a dam, and assaulted. He was then taken into custody, where he was subjected to further torture, including being set upon by dogs.
Demands for Action
The civil society organizations are demanding that ZCDC take immediate action to address these allegations. Their demands include:
– Publicly acknowledging culpability in Mutindindi’s murder
– Publishing the names of the guards involved and ensuring they are held accountable
– Providing compensation to Mutindindi’s family
– Sending all ZCDC security personnel for human rights training
– Conducting a voluntary human rights audit to understand the extent of human rights violations committed by ZCDC security details
-The Zimbabwe human Rights Commission (ZHRC) is urged to conduct comprehensive public consultations with the community to gather evidence and ascertain the extent of the problem of torture and brutality against artisanal miners.
-The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Sub Aqua Unit should scour and conduct a thorough search of the ZCDC dam for any possible remains of artisanal miners.
Failure to comply with these demands, the organizations threatened to engage the Kimberley Process chair with further evidence of gross human rights abuses by ZCDC and demand appropriate action.
The organizations signing the statement include Crisis Coalition of Zimbabwe, The Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG), National Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe (NMWUZ), and Zimbabwe Diamond Workers Union (ZIDAWU), Njuji Jose Trust, Zimbabwe Artisanal Miners Association (ZAMA) and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).