The State and the Bloody Diamond Rush in Chiadzwa

Unpacking the Contesting Interests in the Development of Illicit Mining and Trading, c.2006-2009

Datos Bibliográficos

ID4604341
AutoresTinashe Nyamunda (0000-0001-9624-762X, University of Zimbabwe), Patience Mukwambo (0000-0002-6915-8899, University of Zimbabwe)
Año2012
Volumen38
Número1
Páginas145-166
Fecha de publicación2012-03-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Southern African Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0305-7070 • E-ISSN: 1465-3893
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03057070.2012.649945
OpenAlexW2152458287
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas19

This article examines the development of diamond mining and trading in Chiadzwa, a communal area in Marange, Zimbabwe. It also examines the nature of the state and its role in the early dynamics of diamond exploitation. Mining development in Chiadzwa had far-reaching political, economic, cultural and moral, as well as epidemiological, demographic and environmental, implications for the Marange landscape. This article unravels the activities surrounding illicit diamond activities in Marange, revealing the different interests involved, their interaction with the state and their impact on the landscape of the diamondiferous area. From March 2006, Chiadzwa – located some 80 kilometres from the eastern town of Mutare – literally and metaphorically became a terrain of contestation following the ‘discovery’ of diamonds. Numerous interests converged on the area seeking to exploit the diamonds, systematically displacing the interests and hegemony of the original, mostly apostolic, inhabitants of Marange. The discovery also unleashed state violence on these groups, who evolved coping strategies in their efforts to continue benefiting from the resource, until a decisive police and army operation, ‘Dzokera Kumusha’ (Go Back Home), violently expelled the majority of artisanal miners from Chiadzwa in January 2009. This operation was an attempt by the state to regulate the diamond mining and trading process, in order to allow the registered mining companies it favoured to move in and start mining operations

Hegemony · Political science · Politics · Sociology · African history and culture studies · African studies and sociopolitical issues · Law · South African History and Culture