While the state media reports that only (3) three people have so far died in the rejuvenated diamond rush at Chiadzwa mines, locals say no less than (20)twenty people have been killed in the mines in the last few days.
Two weeks ago government kicked out all the companies that have been mining diamonds in the area after failing to agree on government terms.
The immediate removal opened up a free for all illegal diamonds panning at the disused mines.
Early this week a section of one of the mine shafts collapsed under pressure of the huge number of the illegal miners. According to local people, no less than (20)twenty people died in the collapsed shaft.
In a bid to try to protect its image, government is instead reporting that only (3) three people died.
A very high powered government delegation led by Manicaland Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Mendy Chimene and local chiefs visited the mines yesterday to try and beg the illegal miners to move out of the claims. Hundreds of them however instead fled from the delegation and took refuge in the unsafe mining shafts under-ground.
Meanwhile, police in the area have introduced an operation code named “Operation hatidzokere” which seeks to stop people from going back into the diamonds mining since the removal of the mining companies. Thousands of Zimbabweans flooded the area when the diamonds were first discovered at the turn of the century resulting in violent attacks by the army that left hundreds of people dead.
In nearby Mutare an influx of international diamond buyers has been reported by the police.