HARARE – Kimberly Process (KP) Certification Scheme diamond monitor Abbey Chikane is in Zimbabwe to assess operations at the country’s controversial Chiadzwa diamond field, ZimOnline has learnt.

Chikane, whom we had erroneously reported as scheduled to arrive in Harare today, jetted into the country on Monday at the head of a KP delegation to check Zimbabwe’s progress in compliance with KP requirements.

"Chikane’s appointment as a monitor marks the beginning of a collaborative approach to the implementation of the KP minimum requirements, which should result in Zimbabwe diamonds being traded legitimately on the global market," said a statement from the KP Secretariat in Israel released on Monday.

Chikane has to assess diamond production at Chiadzwa, also known as Marange, and inspect if there is no illegal diamond digging taking place in a bid to ensure operations at the controversial field comply with KP requirements.

Upon arrival Chikane, who is South African, held meetings with Mines Minister Obert Mpofu, officials from the finance ministry, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

Officials from the Namibia based Global Diamond Evaluators also attended the meeting.

Chikane, who also toured Mbada Investments’ sorting and valuation facility at the Harare International Airport, is expected to visit Chiadzwa diamond field today to assess Mbada and Canadile Miners’ operations in the controversial field.

Mbada Investments and Canadile Miners are two joint ventures that the government-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) last year formed with two South African firms as part of measures to bring mining of diamonds at Chiadzwa in line with standards stipulated by the KP.

Under a set of measures meant to bring Zimbabwe’s controversial diamond industry in line with KP standards, the world diamond industry must monitor production and sales of diamonds from Chiadzwa field where the army has been accused of rights abuses against civilians.

Zimbabwe settled for the appointment of Chikane, the KP founding chairman, following months of dispute with the world diamond watchdog – a joint government, industry and civil society initiative to stop trade in conflict diamonds.

Mpofu was not keen to have a monitor other than from an African country, while the KP wanted someone from a Western nation.

Marange is one of the world’s most controversial diamond fields with reports that soldiers sent to guard the claims after the government took over the field in October 2006 from a British firm that owned the deposits committed gross human rights abuses against illegal miners who had descended on the field.

Human rights groups have been pushing for a ban on Zimbabwean diamonds but last November, the country escaped a KP ban with the global body giving Harare a June 2010 deadline to make reforms to comply with its regulations. – ZimOnline