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Vimbainashe Zhakata Manicaland Correspondent
STAKEHOLDERS in the mining sector have thrown their weight behind Government’s call for value addition and beneficiation, saying the move creates more jobs for citizens. Speaking during the Manicaland Provincial Alternative Mining Indaba held in Mutare on Tuesday, Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) representative Reverend Abel Waiziweyi said there was need to venture into cutting and polishing of diamonds to create more employment.

“We should create employment in Zimbabwe through such activities as cutting and polishing diamonds,” said Reverend Waiziweyi. “Why can’t we polish the diamonds ourselves?”

President Mnangagwa’s administration is emphasising on value addition and beneficiation, which generate more revenue for the country and creates more jobs.

In India, there are some companies involved in value addition and beneficiation of diamonds which employ up to 30 000 people, demonstrating the centrality of value addition in the mining sector.

In the 2017-2018 financial year, India’s cut and polished diamond exports rose by 4,2 percent to US$23,7 billion.

Administrator for the Marange Community Share Ownership Trust Mr David Garwe said they were working with an Indian company to start a diamond polishing and cutting company in Marange.

“We have engaged an Indian company that we asked to register with MMCZ (Minerals Marketing Corporation Zimbabwe) so that we can know if they are genuine,” said Mr Garwe.

“We would like to have our own diamond and cutting company in Zimbabwe, specifically in Marange, because that is where the diamonds are. This (Indian) company has expertise in terms of polishing, cutting and jewellery production.”

Rev Waiziweyi called on miners to protect the environment for posterity.

He believes Government can accelerate this by creating friendly mining policies that enable artisanal miners and mining companies to excel in the sector, without decimating the environment.

“God gave us dominion over the world and everything that is in it,” said Rev Waiziweyi. “We should take care of the environment. Let us put our heads together and find sustainable solutions in order to save the resources that God gave us and be good stewards.”

This follows concerns raised by some villagers that they had lost livestock, while human lives were also threatened by chemicals being released into water sources such as rivers and pits left uncovered by miners.

Running under the theme, “Promoting safe and responsible investment”, the workshop brought together several stakeholders, among them the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (Zela), Environmental Management Agency (EMA), Marange Community Share Ownership Trust, ZCC as well as community-based organisations.