The theft of 400 kilos of diamond ore at the Zimbabwe diamond mine Chiadzwa, in the Marange fields, has been reported by Zimbabwean news. Marange Resources, one of four companies mining diamonds in Zimbabwe’s Marange fields, reported the 400 kilos of concentrated diamond ore worth millions of dollars stolen from a truck during a late night robbery. 

The truck carrying the diamond ore for processing reportedly broke down in the diamond field at around 1:00 am, whereupon a group of 10 robbers armed with AK-47 rifles ambushed the vehicle and escaped with the highly valuable ore, overpowering and injuring security guards in the process—the diamond field is protected by security forces and private guards and the robbery took place in a high security zone. 

“They took the guard’s communication radio and looted the diamond ore. They stashed the ore into sacks. The robbers were disturbed by a car which passed through, and fled,” said a police official.

Gift Chimanikire, Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining, believes that the robbery was an inside job and confirms that the theft is being investigated. A prominent Zimbabwean economic commentator has said that thieves could not obtain access to a truck inside the diamond field without inside knowledge.

“This is a serious case in which the State has lost revenue through theft. Our mission is to recover the looted diamonds and make sure that what belongs to the people of Zimbabwe is brought back…. We cannot have a situation whereby robbers sneak into the fields and ambush trucks. The Minerals Unit will get to the bottom of the robbery and bring to book those involved….The fact that the robbers were so many, numbering up to 10, indicates that this was a planned thing,” said Assistant Police Commissioner David Mahoya.

Zimbabwe's Marange diamond field has been prone to controversy for some time, due to human rights related issues. 

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