Zimbabwe's Finance Minister Tendai Biti and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu clashed over the country's accountability for diamond industry money. While presenting the country's mid-term financial plans last week, Biti accused the country of lacking proper accountability; Mpofu railed against the statement, calling it "confused and inflammatory rhetoric."

During his speech, Biti cited blurry account books and encouraged the adoption of a Diamond Revenue Bill to create a transparent audit of all diamond revenue in Zimbabwe. But Mpofu dismissed Biti's claims and said that all diamond trade in the country was done aboveboard.

"We are not surprised by the inflammatory remarks made by Minister Biti. At first he was denying receiving money from diamonds, now here he is, confirming that he received more than $174m. A further $27m was also remitted to Treasury recently from the Zimbabwe Minerals Development Corporation. We are and we will not be shaken by his sentiments, for we now know his double-dealing. We have been remitting all the diamond proceeds according and we have records to prove it," The Zimbabwean quoted of Mpofu.