Fri
Jun
26
Zimbabwe army 'runs diamond mine'
Lobby group Human Rights Watch has accused Zimbabwe’s army of using forced labour, including children, to mine diamonds in the east of the country.
Local villagers who do not co-operate with the military are beaten and tortured, the US-based group says.
Their report also details an alleged massacre of diamond diggers last year, after the disputed elections.
It urges the unity government to take control of the mines and use the revenue to help rebuild the country.
“Zimbabwe’s new government should get the army out of the fields, put a stop to the abuse,” Human Rights Watch’s Africa director Georgette Gagnon said.
“The police and army have turned this peaceful area into a nightmare of lawlessness and horrific violence,” she said.
(read more ….)While the West mourns the death of Michael Jackson, let’s not forget that there is still real tragedy in the world.
