Zim’s ‘blood’ diamonds will pay raises

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s state media has reported that the state mining corporation says it is paying government employee raises this month with revenues from controversy-mired diamond fields in eastern Zimbabwe.

The finance ministry, controlled by the prime minister’s party in the troubled coalition, has said it didn’t have the money from taxes to pay wage hikes.But media loyal to President Robert Mugabe reported yesterday that the head of Mining Development Corp, Goodwills Masimirembwa, said it was paying raises to some 200 000 state employees. The raises add an estimated US$40 million to the monthly salaries tab.Mugabe has called for early elections to end the coalition and in April promised raises to teachers and other civil servants who had threatened strike action. – Nampa-AP