Mining companies from China and the United Arab Emirates have been licensed to mine diamonds in Zimbabwe's Chiadzwa region, the Zimbabwe Standard reports, quoting Goodwill Masimirembwa of the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC).

The companies in question are Sino-Zimbabwe, the second Chinese firm granted a diamond mining license in Zimbabwe, and Pure Dian from the UAE, which has been given a license to join Mbada and Marange Resources.

Masimirembwa told the Standard that although the Chinese firms and Pure Dian had mining licenses, they were busy exploring for diamonds rather than actively mining. He said that the ZMDC had over 150 applications for mining licenses from potential investors.

He also noted that export of rough diamonds from Chiadzwa could bring Zimbabwe some $85 million a month if not for the international sanctions that remain in place, and added that diamonds were being produced under "difficult circumstances" and being sold at a "slow pace," which was "not good for the economy."

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Tendai Biti has called for an audit into the revenue from two Kimberley Process-approved sales of Zimbabwe diamonds. A total of $300 million was supposed to have been deposited into the state treasury, but is currently accounted for. Acting on assurances from Mines Minister Obert Mpofu that the money was available, President Robert Mugabe promised to raise civil servants' wages, a move seen as key to garnering support for his Zanu-PF party in the upcoming elections. Mugabe's supporters have accused Mpofu of "embarrassing" the president.