Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe will set up offices in Shanghai and Dubai this year to sever intermediate links and sell precious stones, including diamonds, directly to China and the UAE.

The corporation is a wholly government-owned company which falls under the ambit of the Zimbabwe Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, which announced establishment of the new offices.

The corporation is the exclusive agent for the selling and marketing of all minerals produced in Zimbabwe, except gold and silver.

Christopher Mutsvangwa, former Zimbabwean ambassador to China and the corporation's chairman, said the disordered international market for diamonds has led to illegal exports of Zimbabwean diamonds.