The Kimberley Process has designated a ‘KP Monitor’ under a Joint Work Plan agreed with Zimbabwe at the Swakopmund Plenary meeting, in November 2009, to address the indications of serious non-compliance with KP minimum requirements identified b mission in July 2009. The Joint Work Plan provides for a series of commitments by Zimbabwe to bring diamond mining in the Marange area in full compliance with the Kimberley P Certification Scheme (KPCS). monitored by the KP, notably through the nomination of a ‘KP Monitor’ while exports of Marange diamonds will be subject to prior verification of compliance.

The Kimberley Process has nominated Mr. Abbey Chikane as the Kimberley Process for Zimbabwe. Mr. Chikane, a founder Chairman of the Kimberley Process, will visit Zimbabwe on 1-3 March 2010 on a fact monitoring the implementation of the Joint Work Plan. The KP Monitor response to an invitation from the government of Zimbabwe that stated, in a latter to the KP: “In the interest of quick implementation of the Swakopmund Decision and the Joint Work Plan, Zimbabwe wished to express its readiness to have the tasks contained in the Joint Work Plan that need to be urgently accomplished”. Mr. Boaz Hirsch, Chairman of the Kimberley Process, stated that as Chair of the Kimberley Process, Israel has set the fulfillm at the top of its priorities. Implementation of the Joint Working Plan, said Mr. Hirsch, is an important step in the right direction. Mr. Hirsch thanked the Zimbabwe government for the cooperation and expressed trust in its continuation. Mr. Hirsch also thanked the Chair of the Working Group on Monitoring, Mr. Stephane Chardon, for successfully managing the negotiations with the Zimbabwe government.

The KP Monitor’s role is to liaise with the Zimba of Mines, in order to assess implementation of the Joint Work Plan, and report regularly to the Kimberley Process on implementation of the work plan. The KP Monitor will also play a key role with regard to the mechanism for the supervision of exports of Marange diamonds in compliance with KP minimum requirements. In order for the KP Monitor to Zimbabwean government has committed to ensure full and unhindered access to all relevant diamond production and processing sites as well as to all relevant stakeholders from the point of mining to the point of export, including representatives of government, industry and civil society.

The appointment of A. Chikane as a Monitor illustrate the Kimber dedication to ensure implementation of KP minimum requirements in Zimbabwe, in order to protect the integrity of the Kimberley Process and the international legitimate diamond trade and ensure that mining in Zimbabwe, and especiall rules and standards.