Zimbabwean Finance Minister Tendai Biti says that a review of civil servants' salaries is contingent on receiving full information on the money from sales of Marange diamonds, the Voice of America reports.

Speaking to the media this week, Biti said that Zimbabwe's government revenue for January-March 2011 had fallen short of the $2.7 billion goal. During that period, the country's civil servants were paid a total of $250 million.

Wages for civil servants have been a hot topic in Zimbabwe as President Robert Mugabe, seeking to remain in power if and when presidential elections – which have been repeatedly delayed – are held. Earlier this year, Mugabe promised to raise salaries for workers in the public sector, based on reports from Mines Minister Obert Mpofu that money from recent diamond sales was available to cover the move.

However, in February Biti called for an audit of the diamond transactions after it appeared that some $300 million was missing from the state coffers.

Biti also told reporters that he does not expect Zimbabwe to hold presidential elections this year, as the Treasury cannot supply the $400 million that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission needs to fund them.