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This article participates on the following special index pages:

Final report to the Working Group on Monitoring and Kimberly Process Chair
Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS)
October 2009

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I. Introduction

Pursuant to the Mandate established by the Working Group on Monitoring ("WGM"), a team of 10 individuals conducted a Review Mission to Zimbabwe from 30 June - 4 July, 2009. A copy of the Mandate is attached as Appendix A. Liberia, represented by A. Kpandel Fayia, Deputy Minister for Planning and Development in the Ministry of Lands, Mines, and Energy, served as Chair of the Review Mission. Other members of the Review Mission included: Canada (represented by Abdul Omar); the European Community (represented by Clementine Burnley); Namibia (represented by Kennedy Hamutenya and Desiderius Reinhold); South Africa (represented by Martin Mononela and Garfield Chounyane); the United States of America (represented by Brad Brooks-Rubin); the World Diamond Council ("WDC")/industry (represented by Cecilia Gardner); and Green Advocates/ civil society) (represented by Alfred Brownell) ("The Review Team"/"the Team").

The Team wishes to express its appreciation to the many members of the government of Zimbabwe who facilitated the work of the Review Team, particularly Mr John Makandwa of the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development. The size of the Review Team made the logistics alone quite a challenge, which were met with great care and cooperation. The Review Team also wishes to thank the KP Chair and WGM Chair for their significant efforts in insuring that the Review Team was formed and was able to complete its assignment.

A. Background on KP Peer Review of Zimbabwe

The KP has conducted two Review Visits of Zimbabwe, in 2004 and in 2007. The 2004 Review Visit ("2004 RV"), led by Canada, was undertaken prior to Zimbabwe's commencement of rough diamond export or import activity, and at a time when Zimbabwean mines were not in production. As such, the recommendations of the 2004 RV were limited and focused primarily on certain aspects of the operations/functions of the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) within the Zimbabwean diamond sector, including the potential for an independent audit process and issuance of a warranty to maintain compliance with the WDC system of warranties. Overall, the 2004 RV concluded that, although difficult to determine for a non-active Participant, "Zimbabwe has in place a system that is capable of fulfilling in a satisfactory manner its undertakings under the KPCS." (2004 RV Report, p. 12).

The 2007 Review Visit ("2007 RV"), led by Russia, was undertaken in the wake of concerns stemming from the first diamond rush at Marange, which began in 2006. The 2007 RV visited each of the three production sites and met with a range of government and industry officials, as well as representatives from the United Nations Development Programme and Federation of Small Miners.

The 2007 RV concluded that "the overall structure of the implementation of the KP Certification Scheme appears to be working in a satisfactory manner in Zimbabwe, and, in general, meets the minimum requirements of the KPCS." Given that Zimbabwe was fully active at the time, the 2007 RV recommendations were more extensive than in 2004 and focused on several key areas. First, the 2007 RV recommended that Zimbabwe make its legal framework less cumbersome and more transparent and concise. Second, Zimbabwe needed to "[continue] on with its efforts to keep the situation in the diamond producing areas, first and foremost in and around Marange, under its permanent control."

Third, several technical/detail recommendations were made concerning statistics and the operation of the MMCZ. Finally, the 2007 RV recommended that the KP Plenary consider "ways and means" to combat smuggling, specifically focusing on the potential for the development of footprints to demonstrate the origin of stones.

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