Gift Chimanikire, Zimbabwe's Mines and Minerals Development Minister, has taken a defiant attitude toward US policy on his country's diamond exports, news outlets report.



The Zimbabwe Independent quoted Chimanikire, speaking to miners in Gwanda, saying the US could "go to hell" if it thought it could "dictate" to whom Zimbabwe sold its diamonds.



"America cannot dictate the markets… if they say our diamonds are bloody they can keep their money," the minister said. When asked if he was expressing his personal opinion or was speaking for the government, Chimanikire said "I am a government official and that's the official position."



According to the Independent, some diamond miners felt that the minister's remarks were out of place and would deter potential investors.



Zimbabwe's diamond mining industry has come under international scrutiny after repeated reports of human rights violations in the country's diamond-rich Marange and Chiadzwa deposits. In September, the Kimberley Process allowed Zimbabwe to export a small number of diamonds on the condition that KP monitors be given access to inspect the country's mining operations.