ZIMBABWE’S Parliament has opened a probe into alleged human rights abuses and illegal activities at the Chiadzwa diamonds fields in Manicaland, an MP confirmed Monday.

The probe follows the latest visit to the region by the international diamond trade watchdog – the Kimberly Process (KP) – to assess the unity government’s compliance with a number of recommendations it had made following an earlier visit in July.

The Kimberly Process implicated troops in illegal diamond deals and recommended the army’s withdrawal from the fields.

In an interview on Monday, Mines and Energy parliamentary portfolio committee chairman Edward Chindori–Chininga said: “Yes the committee went to Chiadzwa to investigate, but I was not part of them as I am not feeling well.”

The MP said he was recuperating at home after being involved in a traffic accident in late July.

The KP’s return to Zimbabwe last week was reportedly prompted by reports of victimisation of individuals who had supplied it with information of alleged human rights abuses in the area.

One of them, Newman Chiadzwa, who is involved in a chieftainship wrangle in the area, is facing prosecution for illegal possession of diamonds in 2006.

Prior to the latest visit, the Kimberly Process has been to Zimbabwe in March, April, June and July investigating allegations of “blood diamonds”.

In July, the team recommended that government must take a number of measures such as demilitarising the fields to escape the blacklisting of the country’s precious stones.

During another visit in April, the KP said “the purpose of the visit is to deliver a political message to the Zimbabwean authorities with regards to the concerns on smuggling and illicit trade activities in the Marange diamonds.”