Zimbabwe army guilty of diamond field abuses: Human Rights Watch

A new 62-page report documents the killing of more than 200 people by the army in a takeover of the eastern fields last year, saying it believes the illegal diamond trade is a likely revenue source for senior ZANU-PF officials.

"The police and army have turned this peaceful area into a nightmare of lawlessness and horrific violence," said Georgette Gagnon, HRW's Africa director in a statement.

"Some income from the fields has been funnelled to high-level party members of ZANU-PF, which is now part of a power-sharing government that urgently needs revenue as the country faces a dire economic crisis," the rights group said.

The report, based on more than 100 interviews done in February, called for Zimbabwe's new government to remove the army.

"Under military control, hundreds of children and adults endure forced labour for mining syndicates, while soldiers continue to torture and beat villagers, accusing them of either being or supporting illegal miners who are not working for the army," said HRW.