When did the human rights abuses at Marange start?
It started with the illegal diamond trade, which was when the state proved not to have sufficient funds to purchase Marange diamonds (from informal diggers). It was short of foreign exchange due to the meltdown of the Zimbabwean economy. At the time, illegal buyers and shadowy networks flocked to the region. As the diamond miners were not able to sell the stones to the government, they started to sell them illegally and across the border. Reports suggest diamonds were being sold at the side of the road. We also know of parcels of Marange diamonds that made it to the United Arab Emirates. The ZANU-PF government struck back to fight the illegal diamond trade and maintain control over the fields. The military and police moved into a dominant position. Waves of violence ensued, each an attempt to assert the authority of security agencies in the burgeoning legal and illegal trade. The presidential elections of June 2008 brought more violence and severe human rights abuses. People were murde
