Harare — Kimberley Process monitor for Zimbabwe Mr Abbey Chikane yesterday visited the Chiadzwa diamond fields to get firsthand information on Mbada Diamonds and Canadile Miners operations before touring the Zimbabwe-Mozambique Forbes Border Post to assess security there.
The Forbes visit followed claims in some sections of the international media that diamonds were being smuggled to Mozambique.
Earlier, Mr Chikane inspected the mining operations and also visited Canadile Miners' sorting and valuation facility in Mutare.
He said, "I am on a fact-finding mission and I decided to visit Chiadzwa in Marange.
"I spent the whole day at Mbada and Canadile mining sites.
"Over and above that, I extended my visit by visiting the Zimbabwe-Mozambique border post as a result of allegations that there have been diamonds moved through the Forbes Border Post.
"My visit there is an assessment of the situation on-spot to understand how the border operates. At both Mbada and Canadile there it looks like a lot of work has gone into mining operations at both the companies within a very short period of time.
"I wish them success in everything they are doing to meet the minimum requirements of the Kimberley Process."
Mr Chikane would not say whether or not he was impressed by what he had seen.
"It looks like the next visit will be the beginning of the monitoring and reporting on the shipment.
"That is most likely to be achieved if what we agreed on is implemented and if all the requirements are met based on the discussions we had with key stakeholders in Harare.
"Then we can start talking about certification" he said.
Today Mr Chikane is expected to hold separate meetings with Mines Minister Obert Mpofu and Secretary for the ministry Mr Thankful Musukutwa.
He will also meet officials from the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation.
Mr Chikane will also meet the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, the Zimbabwe Republic Police's Minerals Unit and Marange Resources.
Meetings with officials from Mbada, Canadile Miners and the Global Diamond Valuators of Namibia are also scheduled.
The Global Diamond Valuators is Mbada and Canadile Miners' consultant.
Mr Chikane is on a fact-finding mission to assist in implementation of the Joint Work Plan adopted in Namibia last year.
The Work Plan provides a series of commitments to bring diamond mining operations in Marange in full compliance with the KP.
Mr Chikane arrived in Zimbabwe on Monday on a three-day fact-finding mission.
Meanwhile, Mbada and Canadile -- in conjuction with the ZMDC -- have mined about 2,2 million carats of diamonds in Chiadzwa.
These will be sold once KP certification is attained, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines, Energy and Natural Resources heard yesterday.
Mines Secretary Mr Musukutwa said the gems were awaiting approval from the KP monitor.
"Mbada has so far mined about 2 million carats while the other investor Canadile has only mined about 200 000 carats.
"Canadile has only mined that little because there are areas I have stopped them from mining until they comply with the requirements," Mr Musukutwa said.
When asked his assessment with regards to KP compliance, Mr Musukutwa said: "I would say Mbada has complied 100 percent while Canadile is around 85 percent compliance with the KP requirements.
"The KP monitor only comes to certify our diamonds if we have complied so that we can start exporting the diamonds."
