KIMBERLY Process (KP) monitor for Zimbabwe Abbey Chikane is expected in the country on Wednesday, as government tries to comply with international regulations to trade in diamonds from the controversial Marange field.

During his visit, Chikane is expected to meet with members of the portfolio committee on mines that has been investigating operations of two firms – Mbada Investments and Canadile Miners – that the government licenced to exploit the Marange resources.

The government-owned Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) last year partnered two little known South African firms – Grandwell and Core Mining – to form two joint ventures Mbada Investments and Canadile Miners as part of measures to bring mining of diamonds at Marange in line with standards stipulated by world diamond industry watchdog, the KP.

“Chikane will be arriving on Wednesday this week and will meet up with company representatives from Mbada and Canadile,” a senior government official said, speaking on condition that his name was not published.

“The visit is a culmination of events, as we feel that the KP has not been kind to us as it is being manipulated by some Western countries not to allow us to sell our diamonds. Chikane will also meet up members of the portfolio committee on mines, but this is yet to be confirmed.”

“From our understanding Chikane is coming on Wednesday. He has requested a meeting with our committee, but this is yet to be confirmed by the ministry of mines,” said the source who also spoke on condition that his name was not published.

“We will be in a position to know tomorrow (today) if the ministry has sent a request through Parliament. The problem is that is there is a lot of politicking. Some people in government view our committee with a suspicion as they are saying we will leak secrets. But what secrets will we leak when the whole awarding of the contracts to mine in Marange in the first place was not done in a proper manner.”

Zimbabwe cannot sell the Marange diamonds until Chikane, who has already visited the diamond field – also known as Chiadzwa – in the country’s eastern districts to inspect the mining operations of firms operating in the area, certifies them for release on the international diamond market.

Government officials last month accused Western governments of manipulating the KP to frustrate their efforts to sell diamonds from Marange.

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.