Sought by Zimbabwean police since last week in connection with his vocal criticism of government policies in developing the Marange diamond field in the east of the country, Director Farai Maguwu of the Center for Research and Development in Mutare turned himself in to the police in the Manicaland capital on Thursday.
Police seeking Maguwu arrested his brother Lisben last week and allegedly threatened the lawyer initially representing Lisben Maguwu for making inquiries about his client, leading that attorney to temporarily go into hiding.
Maguwu surrendered to police Thursday morning in the company of another lawyer Tinoziva Bere, who told VOA that Maguwu is accused of publishing and providing false information to Abbey Chikane, the Kimberly Process monitor for Zimbabwe. Chikane was in Mutare last week on a follow-up investigation into mining operations in Marange.
Maguwu presented Chikane with a report saying 2,000 carats of rough diamonds were being smuggled out of Marange and the country every day for sale in markets including the United Arab Emirates.
Bere told VOA Studio 7 reporter Patience Rusere that police seized Maguwu’s passport and car.