Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) security guards are allegedly setting vicious dogs on suspected illegal diamond miners in the Marange area. The government cancelled mining licences of four of the five companies which were involved in the mining of diamonds in Marange in 2016. The companies, Marange Resources, Anjin Investments, Jinan Mining, Mbada Diamonds, and Diamond Mining Corporation, had resisted moves by the government to consolidate them. The government has taken over the diamond field through one entity, the ZCDC. Local NGO Center for Natural Resources Governance (CNRG) said ZCDC was violating human rights in the area. In a statement, CNRG said
It’s surprising that despite the fact that Zimbabwe is a member of the Kimberly Process working group on Alluvial and Artisanal Production, mining companies continue to shut out youngsters who intend to enter into diamond production. They do so by inflicting grave bodily harm which has in most cases left some people with permanent disabilities an injuries.
However, ZCDC public relations and community development manager Sugar Chagonda refuted those allegations. He said
No, it’s not true. Dogs are part of our security and guars. Dog handlers use them to protect themselves when conducting the patrols.
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