Kimberley Process Certification Scheme diamond monitor Abbey Chikane arrived in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tuesday, ahead of a five-day tour.

According to All Africa, upon arrival, Chikane immediately held closed-door meetings with senior Government officials including Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Murisi Zwizwai and the ministry's permanent secretary, Thankful Musukutwa.

The Kimberley Process monitor is also scheduled to meet officials from Zimbabwe's Finance Ministry, the Cabinet Taskforce on Marange Diamond Field, the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy, the Police CID Border Control Unit-which also deals with crimes involving minerals – and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.

During his five-day visit, Chikane will also visit the Chiadzwa diamond fields and Forbes Border Post, where he will check on compliance, following claims that diamonds were being smuggled out of Zimbabwe through the border post.

Chikane's previous visit to the Chiadzwa diamond fields was in March.

Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu said Zimbabwe has met the KP requirements and should now be certified to sell its diamonds.

Progress on the sale of diamonds from Zimbabwe has, however, been severely hampered by Western forces pushing for a ban on the gems from Chiadzwa, where gross human rights violations are perpetrated.

Meanwhile, Chikane has commended Mbada Diamonds and Canadile Miners for working hard towards meeting the KP requirements, as ordered following his March visit.

Mbada Diamonds and Canadile Miners are so far the only companies licensed by the Government to mine diamonds at Chiadzwa.

Pressed on whether or not he would certify the Chiadzwa diamonds, and give Zimbabwe the nod to export the mineral this time around – as he indicated on March trip – Chikane said: "I am still in the middle of my trip. At present it is immature to say that. I will be able to comment on that at the end of my visit."

On operations at Chiadzwa, he said: "There is a lot of improvement, especially with Canadile Miners. They have done a good job and Mbada also."