FM: When I went to meet Chikane at Holiday Inn there were a lot of suspicious people sitting in the lobby and others were standing outside, so I discussed with him what we were observing in Marange especially with the issues of human rights abuses which are continuing, the issues of illegal panning activities and the smuggling of diamonds without the KP certification. The next day we saw on television the government alleging that Chikanes emails had been intercepted and his itinerary had been drafted by the Americans. Then I immediately felt insecure so I went into hiding.
GONDA: Why would Chikane do this?
FM: He is now part of the gravy train/ There must be something that is going on behind the scenes between Abbey Chikane and Zanu (PF) officials who are plundering the Marange diamonds. Being an interested party, it means hes now working to advance the interests of the government against me. The CRD is a member of the Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition, and this month we were due to travel to Israel to present our findings of human rights abuses, panning and smuggling at Chiadzwa. All these allegations against me are meant to start a long legal battle that will keep me in the country and paralyse our operations of our organisation.
GONDA: Were you given assurances by Chikane that whatever you discussed with him during that meeting would remain confidential?
FM: In the beginning, before we started talking, I told Chikane we were living in a very difficult situation where human rights are not respected, where there is a rule by law and not rule of law and my life is not secure discussing these issues with you and I need your promise of confidentiality in everything that Im going to discuss with you. He gave me assurance that nothing would be revealed to anyone except only for his own mission to help him on his tour of Marange.
Now the civil society coalition in the KP obviously is very angered by this. Chikane may be forced to withdraw, another monitor may have to be found. His behaviour has put a dent on the KP operations and its credibility.
GONDA: What is your next move?
FM: Tomorrow I will hand in myself to the police in Mutare. I am a Zimbabwean, this is the only country that I call home, I believe our fight for the rights of the people of Chiadzwa and our fight for transparency and accountability in Marange diamond is a just cause. It is a cause for which Im very much prepared to suffer any consequences. The reason why I was hiding is simply because I was not prepared to face them at that time, I had not set up any legal team to help me, but now Ive done my ground work and Im prepared to face them come what may. – violet@swradioafrica.com
Post published in: News