Further Twists in the Fate of the Marange Diamonds

Panning for diamonds in Zimbabwe, an unknown fate

The fate of a large stock of diamonds is shrouded in mystery, as a Zimbabwe minister defied a court order late last week and confiscated rough diamonds that later disappeared and still remain missing as of press time. Some may argue that any twist and turn is possible in the corrupt and mismanaged African country. However, the story of these diamonds has continued to surprise many as the subject of constant media and diamond-industry attention.

Mined in Zimbabwe’s Marange area by African Consolidated Resources (ACR), the rough diamonds immediately captured the government’s attention, which expelled the British firm from operating the fields in 2006.

The situation continued to deteriorate, with local villagers descending on the vacant field and mining the diamonds with improvised tools, joined by migrant workers from neighboring countries.

The government forcefully kicked out ACR because it wanted the diamonds for itself. In a further step to take control of the goods, army and police units attacked the diggers, killing an estimated 200 people in the process in 2008.

While the international community decried the violence and continues to demand that controls are set for Marange diamonds, ACR kept fighting for its claim, recently wining a court ruling that deemed the firm the legal claim holder of the mining area.

About two weeks ago, Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court ordered the goods ACR held - estimated at 150,000-300,000 carats - to be deposited at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, so neither ACR nor the government may possess the diamonds while the court is still deliberating the case. 

What has followed is nothing short of a John Ford Western. A few nights before the goods were to be transported, a group of men brandishing AK-47 assault rifles stormed ACR’s office, robbing it of equipment but failing to steal the diamonds.

The goods were scheduled to be transferred to the bank’s safe in a secret operation last Thursday. Defying the court and the right to due process, the Minister of Mines Obert Mpofu commanded police to take hold of the goods as ACR and the bank were recording details of the diamonds, which were held in three strong boxes.

Usually in the movies, the goods and the robbers disappear into the darkness, which is what happened here. The Zimbabwe newspapers were quick to report Sunday night that the diamonds have disappeared. Again, usually in the movies, after a setback, the climax takes place and the Good Guys, typically by force, restore justice. No one wants to see further violence in Zimbabwe, but is this the path these goods will take? Time will tell.