WESTERN diamond processors and rights organisations have called for an “independent” investigation of the Kimberly Process (KP) monitor for Zimbabwe in what may be a futile attempt to force the KP’s hand when the body meets in Israel beginning Monday.

The KP – a global watchdog set up to prevent trade in conflict diamond – begins its inter-sessional meeting in Israel with the issue of Zimbabwe’s contested Marange diamonds topping the agenda.

The body is widely expected to endorse a recommendation by its Zimbabwe monitor, Abbey Chikane that the Marange gems should be certified as “conflict free” because the country has met the basic requirements established by the body.

However consumer bodies in the west and rights organisations are crying foul and have demanded that the KP maintain its Zimbabwe ban and launch a probe into the activities of its monitor.

“Zimbabwe's armed forces still control most of the fields, despite a commitment by the government to remove them from the area. Corruption is rife, and smuggling of Marange diamonds by soldiers in the field is prolific.

“The diamonds continue to benefit a few senior people in the government and their accomplices rather than the people of Zimbabwe as a whole,” Human Rights Watch said in a statement.

The organisation claimed that state security agencies were continuing abuses in Marange adding the two South Africa-based companies contracted by the government to mine the diamonds were connected to senior Zanu PF officials.

“There is also concern about the role of Abbey Chikane, the South African monitor appointed by the Kimberley Process (KP), to devise a "joint work plan" to bring Zimbabwe into compliance with the KP's rules.

“Human Rights Watch again calls for Zimbabwe to be suspended from the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) due to these continuing abuses. It also calls for a halt to the "joint work plan" pending an independent investigation into Mr. Chikane,” the organisation said.

Brilliant Earth, an American Jeweller, said the credibility of the KP was now being put into question over its “failure to change the situation in Zimbabwe”.

Another rights organisation, Global Witness, said the credibility of the KP’s monitor had been compromised after activist Farai Maguwu, “who helped document the abuses, was jailed two weeks ago for giving documents to the monitor, preventing him from attending the meeting”.

“The (meeting in Israel should) suspend Zimbabwe from the Kimberley Process until there is evidence that human rights abuses in the diamond fields have ceased and Zimbabwe is complying fully with Kimberley Process minimum requirements," Global Witness said in a statement.

The Zimbabwe government dismisses the allegations as the work of “detractors” bent on ensuring the country does not benefit from its mineral resources.

Mines Minister Obert Mpofu recently imposed a blanket ban on all diamond exports from the country until the Marange gems are certified as the government upped the stakes over the controversy.

The blanket export ban hit Murowa diamond mine which is owned by Australia-based global resources group Rio Tinto PLC as well as River Ranch mine based in Beitbridge.

Government officials have also insisted that Zimbabwe would quit the KP and trade its gems through other channels if the Marange injunction is not lifted.