Zimbabwe Review Mission on the Ground

The Kimberley Process’s review mission to Zimbabwe has arrived in the country last Thursday to examine the country’s compliance with KP standards. The team is expected to submit its report later this month.

The KP review mission was sent to Zimbabwe following a compromise deal reached in July that includes allowing two rough diamond exports of goods mined after May 28. The review mission is planned to conclude its visit during the weekend.

After writing its report, the team will submit it to Zimbabwe for comments. This stage in the process is usually an opportunity for a reviewed country to correct problems the mission found and explain its actions - if the mission found any problems. Zimbabwe will have 30 days to submit its comments.

After Zimbabwe submits its reply, the review mission may revise its report before submitting it to KP Working Group. The final report is expected by late September or early October. In November, it will be brought to the KP conference in Jerusalem.

The team comprises of ten people, representing all stakeholders. They include country representatives from U.S., Liberia, Australia, Ghana, India, Namibia and South Africa, two NGO representatives and analyst Chaim Even-Zohar representing the diamond industry. A Brazilian representative canceled his participation at the last moment.

The composition of the team is understood to be split evenly between supporters of Zimbabwe’s exports and opposers.

Because of the wide media attention the KP talks about Zimbabwe received in the past two months, the review mission’s report is expected to receive wide public attention, or in the words of one industry insider, the review mission itself will be under review.

KP Monitor Abbey Chikane is also in Zimbabwe, checking the goods that will be offered for export this month. The second export will be made in September.

The approved goods will receive KP certificates and are expected to be auctioned on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, ministers from Africa's diamond producing countries arrived in Zimbabwe on Monday to chime in on the country’s Marange fields and will visit the border with Mozambique to assess smuggling activity.