The Diamond Guru: Diamonds & Chiwenga's Zimbabwean Army

Mugabe's Diamond Grab Loses Its Shine

Zimbabwe's Unholy Trifecta

The head of Zimbabwe Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO)

Happyton Bonyongwe (L)

with

Constantine Chiwenga, the commander of the Zimbabwean Army (C)

are pictured with
President Robert Mugabe upon his arrival at Harare Airport

insisting to remain president for life despite losing the elctions

(Picture taken July 3rd or 4th , 2008)

Robert Mugabe said he is only open to negotiations on an end to Zimbabwe's political crisis if he is accepted as the country's president.

Mugabe Dictates

Zimbabwe vows to remove troops from diamond fields

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe has pledged to remove its troops from diamond fields in the east, an official newspaper reported Sunday, a week after a rights group alleged the military was committing killings and abuses in the area.

The move appeared to be an attempt to diffuse criticism over the military's takeover of the Marange diamond fields and ensure that those diamonds won't be tainted with the "blood diamond" label by activists, which would reduce their value.

The armed forces of Zimbabwe are composed of an army (ZNA) and an air force (AFZ). The most senior commander of Zimbabwe's army is currently General Constantine Chiwenga

Chiwenga has earned a reputation in her own right as a vicious enforcer for President Robert Mugabe.

Chiwenga is a senior figure in Mugabe's ruling Zanu PF party

Chiwenga joined Mugabe in Mozambique for the independence struggle, then in 1980 joined the Army, and rose swiftly through the ranks, thanks to ruthless ambition.

Chiwenga was one of the first to raise his hand when Mugabe asked "Who wants a white farm?," repaying his boss by declaring before the 2002 Presidential election that his forces would accept no outcome other than a Mugabe victory.

Today he remains at the head of the much-politicised Army, and both he and his wife, Jocelyn, are amongst those barred from travelling to Europe and the US.

It has been alleged by opposition leaders that the military has gained control of political life in Zimbabwe following the 2008 elections that saw the MDC become the majority party in the Parliament.

The ZNA is under the command of Lieutenant General Philip Velario Sibanda, who took over from General Constantine Chiwenga following his elevation to the post of Commander Zimbabwe Defence Forces in December 2003.

The ZNA currently has an active duty strength of 30,000.

Zimbabwe President meets top US official
www.chinaview.cn 2009-07-03 19:21:12

HARARE, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe met U.S. Under-Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson on the sidelines of the 13th Ordinary Session of the African Union General Assembly in Sirte, Libya on Thursday.
The meeting with Carson was the first time in several years that a senior member of the U.S. administration has met President Mugabe, The Herald said on Friday.
Sources who attended the meeting said Mugabe had a frank discussion with Carson who requested the meeting, and was briefed on the process that led to the formation of the inclusive government, its current state and the working relations between the three parties involved.
Mugabe, the sources said, told Carson that the government was working well. The meeting comes in the wake of recent attempts by some in the West to trash the inclusive government by claiming that it was failing to meet set "benchmarks" even though all the parties that signed the Global Political Agreement have given the arrangement a clean bill of health and pledged their commitment to resolving any problems arising from the implementation of the agreement among themselves.
During Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's recent tour of Western capitals, the "benchmarks" were cited as an excuse to maintain the sanctions regime on Zimbabwe and to deny the country development support.
Carson, a career African-American diplomat, served as U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe between 1995 and 1997, and ended his tenure just before the bilateral dispute over land with Britain flared up.

Diamonds are Robert Mugabe's Best Friend

LLEWELLYN KING,

Hearst Newspapers Published Tuesday 7th July 2009

Diamonds are not a country's best friend. Certainly not if yours is a semi-lawless country in Africa, like Zimbabwe.

In Zimbabwe the discovery of diamonds in the beautiful part of the country around Marange, southeast of the capital of Harare, has probably extended the life of the Robert Mugabe regime by two years. Their discovery by a British company, Africa Consolidated Resources, in September 2006, provided Mugabe with another source of plunder; plunder he could use to keep his brutal security forces loyal.

Fact is that such economic governance as remains in Zimbabwe is directed to finding cash to pay the army and the police, which keep the Mugabe regime afloat. Even so, Mugabe had fallen behind, and last December soldiers and police demonstrated in Harare, demanding to be paid. Basically, Mugabe's response was to cede the diamond operations to the security forces.

In a new report, Human Rights Watch says the security forces killed 200 miners while tightening their grip on the mines and introducing forced labour. The Kimberley Process, a humanitarian alliance set up to stop the flow of so-called blood diamonds, sent a six-person team to investigate the Zimbabwe mines and found such human-rights abuses that it classified the gems as blood diamonds, to be sanctioned.

But diamonds are hard to trace and label; they are fungible and portable, and they can be mined with a pick and shovel in many places, as they are today in Zimbabwe and Congo. They also can be smuggled in many of the ways drugs are, except there is no odour to aid border guards with dogs.

Through the years diamonds have been ingested, concealed in body cavities, and even hidden in wounds. Desperate people do desperate things - and never more so when there is the prospect of riches in places of utter poverty.

A diamond rush, as has happened in Zimbabwe, is a dangerous, lawless, violent. and wretched occurrence.

As Mugabe has rejected international mining partners, who might actually know something about the safe and orderly mining of diamonds, the Zimbabwe mines are dangerous, inefficient and environmentally disastrous.

The Zimbabweans are not even getting fair value for their gems. These are being marketed through back channels established by the government, and untold numbers of gems are stolen at production and sold to middle men and unscrupulous cutters around the world.

The link between the security forces and the mines has another bad effect: It adds to the political impotence of Morgan Tsvangirai, prime minister in a power-sharing arrangement with Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party.

In that arrangement Mugabe retains control of the security forces, thus robbing Tsvangirai of any authority - not that he would use it well if he got it.

Morgan Tzvangirai

below

Zimbabweans are wondering what has happened to Tsvangirai, who seems to have lost the ability to stand up to Mugabe. For nearly a decade Tsvangirai endured false arrests, allegations of treason, and beatings while in custody. Then he had the last election stolen from him and his Movement for Democratic Change.

Now Zimbabweans are asking whether the trappings of power have corrupted their hero or whether, in accepting the South Africa-brokered power-sharing deal, Tsvangirai boxed himself in. Anyway, he looks as though he has become Mugabe's bagman, touring the world seeking "investment."

Tsvangirai has been promised some very limited humanitarian aid, including $8 million of conditional aid from the British and a promise of a little over $73 million of even more restricted and conditional aid from U.S. President Barack Obama.

When Tsvangirai got back to Harare, Mugabe supporters ridiculed his efforts and his own supporters accused him of selling out to Mugabe. As if to show up his old rival, Mugabe then announced a Chinese loan of just under $1 billion; much of this money has to be spent on Chinese imports.

It is ironic that Mugabe should be kept in power by diamonds. It was diamonds that formed the basis of the fortune that enabled the adventurer, Cecil John Rhodes, to colonize Zimbabwe for Britain in the 1890s. Maybe all diamonds are conflict diamonds. Bloody stones.

The Thieves and Murderers

Flag of the Zimbabwean National Army

Harare Metropolitan Province AVM Karakadzai + CIO Bulawayo Province Col. C. Sibanda Bulawayo central Maj. J. Ndhlovu Maj. J. Ncube Manicaland and Mutare South Brig. Tarumbwa Buhera Central Col. M. Mzilikazi (MID) Buhera North Maj. L. M. Svosve Buhera South Maj. D. Muchena Buhera West Lt. Col. Kamonge Major Nhachi Chimanimani East Lt. Col. Murecherwa Chimanimani West Maj. Mabvuu Headlands Col. Mutsvunguma Makoni North Maj. V. Chisuko Makoni South Wing Commander Mandeya Mutare Central Lt. Col. Tsodzai Lt. Col. Sedze Mandi Chimene Mutare West Lt. Col. B. Kashiri Mutare North Lt. Col. Chizengwe Lt. Col. Mazaiwana Mashonaland Central Brig. Gen. Shungu Bindura South Col. Chipwere Bindura North Lt. Col. Parwada Muzarabani North Lt. Col. Kazaza Muzarabani South Maj. H. Maziri Rushinga Col. F. Mhonda Lt. Col. Betheuni Shamva North Lt. Col. Dzuda Shamva South Makumire Midlands AVM Muchena Brig. Gen. S. B. Moyo Lt Colonel Kuhuni Chirumhanzu South Maj T. Tsvangirai Mberengwa east Col. B. Mavire Mberengwa West Maj T. Marufu Matebeleland South AVM Abu Basutu Beit Bridge East Group Cpt. Mayera Rtd. Maj. Mbedzi Lt. Col. B. Moyo Gwanda South Maj J. D. Moyo Gwanda Central Maj. B. Tshuma Matopo North Lt. Col. Maphosa Matebeleland North Brig. Gen. Khumalo Binga North Maj E. S. Matonga Lupane East Lt Col. Mkwananzi Lupane West Lt Col. Mabhena Tsholotsho Lt. Col. Mlalazi Hwange Central Lt. Col P. Ndhlovu Masvingo Province Maj. Gen. E. A. Rugeje Rtd. Maj. Gen. Gibson Mashingaidze Rtd. Brig. General Rangwani Bikita West Maj. B. R. Murwira Chiredzi Central Col G. Mashava Chiredzi West Maj. E. Gono Gutu South Maj. Chimedza (Medical Doctor) AVM Muchena Masvingo Lt. Col. Takavingofa Mwenezi West Lt. Col. Muchono Mwenezi East Lt. Col. Mpabanga Zaka East Maj. R. Kwenda Mash West Province Brig. Gen. Sigauke Chinhoyi Col Gwekwerere Chegutu East Lt. Colonel W. Tutisa Hurungwe East Lt. Col. B. Mabambe Mhondoro Mubaira Col. C. T. Gurira Zvimba North Cpt. T. Majongwe Mashonaland East Brig. Gen. D. Nyikayaramba Rtd. Brig Gen Rungani Chikomba Central Lt. Col. Marara Gromonzi North Lt Col. Mudzimba Maj F. Mbewe Marondera Central Maj. Gen. Chedondo (COSG) Lt. Col B. Kashiri Marondera West Squadron Leader U. Chitauro Murehwa South Maj. Gurure Murehwa North Lt. Col. Mukurazhizha Lt. Col. Chinete MUDZI SOUTH Brig Nyikayaramba Brig General Eria Kaukonde War vet Zvai Kaukonde Clr Mapepa Kanyumba War vet Sabina Kambudzi War vet HARARE SOUTH Hubert Nyanhongo MP & Retired Major Ian Marara Central Comm Member Tendai Mashonganyika Soldier Struggle Dzapasi War Vet GUTU SOUTH Muchechetere Army officer Rugeje Brigadier General GOKWE CENTRE Tobias C I O Mrs Mubvumbi O I C Prisons Jimmy Matashu C I O Aleck Tigere C I O Isaac Ghana Clr CHEGUTU Ganyami O I C Chegutu Central Spencer Devera Neighbourhood Takundwa Chirodza Neighbourhood MAKONI NORTH Col Denias Mudanhi Soldier Gwidzima Danga Munetsi MHONDORO NGEZI Bright Matonga MP Pepukai Chengeta ZANU (PF) Youth leader Taurai Mutonga MPs' brother Kenneth Mujuru MUTOKO NORTH Israel Nyikayaramba ZANU (PF) Chairman MUDZI WEST Peter Nyakuba Clr Aquarina Katsande MP Gideon Mutadza Headman BIKITA SOUTH Elias Musakwa ZPF Losing MP Mahanda ZPF Supporter GOKWE KABUYUNI Ndini Chireya O I C MBIRE Misheck Nyandoro War Vet Emanuel Richard War Vet Bernard Mondo War Vet Enerst Rufai Soldier Forgive Chimufombo Soldier MUZVEZVE Retired Major Midza Army Cde Goravhata War vet Shepherd Mataga ZANU (PF) Chairman Wonder Muza Clr Ward 5 NYANGA SOUTH Chibhodhoro Army SGT Narwo War Vet Chiocha Army Corp Kadzima Paul Losing MP BUHERA NORTH Major Svosve Army Major Tapera Mapako ZANU (PF) militia MHONDORO MUBAIRA Munaku Councillor Mudzinwa Petros ZANU (PF) Militia Tinashe Taona MARONDERA WEST Ambros Mutinhiri MP & former Minister Cheni Gunmen Chitimbire Gunmen Chitaka Gunmen Beater Ward Clr MUZARABANI NORTH Vatema Muchatonga Soldier Mrs Manyerure Senator Mr Mushore MP Marvelous Kamutangira MUZARABANI SOUTH Chief Chiweshe Chief GOKWE SENGWA Enesia Zimwara Zanu Pf Chairman Farai Ngwenya Zanu Pf Youth Chairman Chihombiro Moyo Councillor GOKWE KANA Noboby Sakala ZPF Chairwoman Mafara Gwarazimba ZPF Youth chairman Morgan Zhangazha Chibwana Councillor GOKWE CENTRE Mai Mubvumbi Officer-in Charge Prisons Gokwe Tobias C.I.O Mudzi North Pfumvute Ass.C omm Katsande Zvidzai War Vet Nyakuba Clr Newton Kachedza MP Nekate Ass.C omm Chegutu West Mutowo Edson Pemhiwa Joseph Peter Ninja Mutasa Central Tarumbwa War vet Mutangamira CIO Chekecheke Joseph ZPF YOUTH Chekecheke Peter ZPF YOUTH Mutare South Mutoro Danai ZPF YOUTH Mrs Chikaka Women's league Zimunya Rodrick ZPF YOUTH Masvingo South Linea Chakawaya Women's league Mai Pipi Mawuru Obert ZPF YOUTH Chairman Matakanure Campaign manager-Mzembi Salani Walter Mzembi MP Gutu West Major Magumise Army Major Guzha Mandebvu MP-former CIO Gutu North Magumise ZNA Major Masanganise ZNA Colonel Melusi ZPF YOUTH Hute Makari Timothy Gangata Chikomba Central Chief Musarurwa Chief

Source : http://kickmugabeout.blogspot.com/ More Pictures

Additional Reading :

Blood Diamonds Plugging the Gaps

Chinese Apartheid in Africa

Zimbabwe Conflict Diamond Informant Incarcerated

The Zimbabwe Situation

Zanu-PF's secret plan to eliminate MDC MPs

Zimbabwe’s deputy prime minister condemns Mugabe’s regime

Zimbabwe seeks Namibian advice on diamond mining

Profiting from Zimbabwe's 'blood diamonds'

Zimbabwe's Deadly Diamonds Part 4

Zimbabwe Mining Minister Banned

Zimbabwe warned over conflict diamonds

Zimbabwe has been given an ultimatum to demilitarise recently discovered diamond fields in the eastern parts of the country following an investigation by the Kimberly Process (KP).
The KP -- an international diamond certification scheme --- recently concluded a fact finding mission on the 16 000 hectare Chiadzwa diamond fields that were discovered at the height of Zimbabwe's economic and political crisis and its findings put pressure on the coalition government to speed up its reforms.