At least 2,000 carats of diamonds are smuggled out of the controversial Chiadzwa diamond fields every day, in direct violation of international trade standards, All Africa reported.



The Mutare-based Centre for Research and Development (CRD), a diamonds watchdog that exposed the human rights abuses taking place at contested diamond filed, warned that large quantities of diamonds harvested in the area were smuggled out of Zimbabwe without Kimberley Process certification.



Zimbabwe is currently in the process of trying to comply with various Kimberley Process directives imposed as means of allowing the country to become part of international diamond trade, rather than ban it.



"Security loopholes at Canadile's plant in Chiadzwa are costing Zimbabwe about 2,000 carats (in diamonds) per day," a CRD statement said.



"Company employees have overtaken illegal panners and soldiers in supplying diamonds to local and foreign buyers, who descend on Chiadzwa daily in search of the precious stones.



"The CRD observed that on average 60 buyers are descending on Chiadzwa to buy diamonds daily," the group said.



Gabriel Shumba, from the Zimbabwe Blood Diamonds Campaign, said his group was not surprised to learn that smuggling was still a problem, but added it was "disappointing that the work plan set out by the KP is clearly being contravened."



Shumba said it is unlikely that Zimbabwe's diamond trade standards will meet international approval by June, when the KP deadline runs out.