Investigation over Zimbabwe's conflict diamonds

These people comprised of cunning, die hard illegal diamond diggers. This compelled government to conduct a special operation to flush out the illegal diamond miners and to bring order and sanity to the area.

But the MDC in statement said Mr Zwizai's remarks were premature as there was a need to carry out a proper investigation.

We view the remarks as premature and inaccurate in the absence of an investigation into the murky dealings in the Chiadzwa diamond fields where a lot of things happened out of the public eye, the party said.

Hon Zwizwai's claims are therefore fact hostile and evidence free.

Economists say if properly mined the diamonds can adequately finance Zimbabwe's economic reconstruction.

The country, which is emerging from a decade of political and economic turmoil, has sent a begging bowl to the international community for US$8 billion in the next three years to fund the reconstruction.