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Experts have been challenged toy take advantage of existing technology to consider options derived from research and development for purposes of beneficiation and value addition of minerals

Business Reporter
President Mugabe has reiterated Government’s call against exportation of minerals in raw or semi-finished form saying there was need to optimise the profit margin from the resource.
Mining has been limited to just extraction and exportation of minerals in their raw or just semi-finished form without due care taken on the need for beneficiation and value addition.

President Mugabe made the remarks in his speech at the official opening of the Non-Aligned Movement Science and Technology workshop on mineral beneficiation and value addition.

The meeting started yesterday and will run until the 14th of this month in Harare.
“In Zimbabwe, mining is an important contributor to sustainable growth and development of the national economy and is recognised in the national economic medium term (2014/ 18) blueprint, what we now call, Zim-Asset,” he said.

President Mugabe said Government, through Zim-Asset, has identified a number of low hanging opportunities, which include optimal exploitation of Zimbabwe’s mineral resources.

“You will realise therefore that there are a number of projects, which include the resuscitation of Mining Corporation, which we have settled on and are well in progress already.”

He said the success of Zim-Asset and other socio-economic recovery initiatives by NAM Science and Technology Centre member states was premised on the success of local mineral beneficiation and value addition derived from advanced science and technology solutions they develop.

“I challenge our experts to deliberately and most importantly take advantage of existing technology to consider options derived from research and development for purposes of beneficiation and value addition of minerals,” he said.

Against this background, President Mugabe offered Zimbabwe to be the host of the NAM S & T Centre of Excellence on Mineral Beneficiation and Value Addition saying it would help member states optimise returns from minerals.

Speaking at the same event, Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa said the NAM S & T workshop on beneficiation and value addition came as Zimbabwe prepares to host a meeting of African Ministers of Mines in November to explore ways to discuss mineral beneficiation.

He said the meeting of ministers would discuss issues that include what it is that “we must do to value add our minerals.”
“The workshop offers a platform for building networks and closer interaction and exchange of experiences of experts from both the developed and developing countries.
“This naturally allows the flow of knowledge and understanding of best practices in mineral beneficiation and value addition. Mineral wealth of our land (member states), must not be exported as raw ores, concentrates or basic minerals, without beneficiation and value addition,” President Mugabe said.

He said concerted effort must be made to ensure that Africa’s development models were such that it jumped to levels higher than current protectionism in the shortest possible time.

“Beneficiation and value addition cannot be achieved through the business-as-usual industrial mindset, this conversation you have embarked on, is introducing a new paradigm altogether for the benefit of member states.

“The mining sector requires mineral processing and beneficiation advanced training, given the central raw that mineral beneficiation and value addition is to sustained economic growth, the growth of our nations,” said the President