HARARE – Zimbabwe is embroiled in a dispute with the diamond regulator Kimberly Process (KP) over the appointment of a monitor to asses diamonds emanating from the controversial Chiadzwa fields, government officials said on Monday.

According to the government officials Mines Minister Obert Mpofu prefers a monitor from an African country whereas the KP insists on the monitor coming from Europe.

"Mpofu feels that the monitor has to come from an African country," a government official who spoke on condition that his name was not published told ZimOnline.

"The KP says it prefers to have a monitor from Europe, but Mpofu feels that a monitor from the EU will not give a fair balanced report because of the perceived hostile EU policy on some government ministers drawn from ZANU PF. The minister also feels that even a monitor from Asia or the Americas may have biased views against the government or the mining at Chiadzwa which might result in a negative report,” he added.

The KP monitor has to assess diamond production at Chiadzwa 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.

Although Mpofu was not available for comment as he kept on saying he was attending a meeting, Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) acting head of marketing Masimba Chandavengerwa yesterday, told a parliamentary portfolio committee on mining that there was dispute between government and KP.

"There were allegations from previous KP visits, which the government felt were not good," Chandavengerwa said, adding "We had agreed on a Nambian monitor, but there are various CV's that are available to be looked at. The KP wanted to send a monitor from De Beers, and someone else from Europe maybe Belgium but the government wants an African monitor."

The dispute between Mpofu and KP comes after Zimbabwe was last month forced to shelve the selling of the precious gem after the failure by Mbada Diamonds – a joint venture between the government’s Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation and a South African firm to follow the KP procedure.

The KP is a joint government, industry and civil society initiative to stop trade in conflict diamonds – rough diamonds used by rebel movements and other rouge groups to finance wars against legitimate governments.

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.

International rights groups have been pushing for a world ban on Zimbabwe diamonds until Harare acts to ensure mining at Chiadzwa is in full compliance with KP standards.

The southern African nation however escaped a KP ban last November but the global body gave Harare a June 2010 deadline to make reforms to comply with its regulations. – ZimOnline