MINERAL value addition is key to transforming the economy with Government supporting all efforts to beneficiate primary products at source, Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has said.
VP Chiwenga said this yesterday after touring the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) deep boiling plant.
The plant is part of the company’s strategic development programme with which it is seeking to enhance the value of its precious stones before taking them to the market in order to maximise revenue.
VP Chiwenga said value addition by local companies is a necessity as rough diamonds or any other raw mineral extraction will not be able to foster the kind of mining sector contribution to the national and local economies.
“The brief that we received and the subsequent tour of the deep boiling facility made us appreciate the importance of undertaking basic processes such as removal of the coating of our rough diamonds at the source of production,” said VP Chiwenga.
In the diamond sector, he said, Government envisions the opening of new mines from exploration projects currently ongoing, expansion of existing projects, increased capacity utilisation and value addition and beneficiation.
VP Chiwenga said the diamond industry is dynamic and the sector has been witnessing a revolution which has seen unprecedented challenges and opportunities.
“It is some of these challenges that we continue to resolve in order to be competitive and seize opportunities that manifest in the diamond trading environment.
“I am convinced that diamonds are an agent for change and have contributed to the transformation of the African continent, contributing to economic growth and improving the livelihoods of our communities”.
Despite the diamond sector in Zimbabwe facing unprecedented challenges a decade ago, he said, the industry has been on a growth trajectory that has seen diamond production output and revenue increasing.
“The consolidation of the diamond mining companies to form Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company has brought about improvements in the sector,” said VP Chiwenga.
He also implored mining companies and investors in general to deliberately tailor interventions that foster sustainable economic benefit for people in areas of their business operations.
The VP said the upgrade at ZCDC is testament of the work done by President Mnangagwa and the Second Republic in rejuvenating the mining sector so that it plays a key role towards an empowered upper-middle income economy.
Such investments, he said, should answer to the economic needs of the populace through employment creation and high impact and sustainable corporate social investment.
VP Chiwenga said ZCDC through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes has been playing a transformative role in the lives of the Chiadzwa community and the nation at large.
He noted that it is gratifying that the company is currently implementing the Sustainable Community Enterprises and Development (SCED) programme in Chiadzwa for local developmental projects.
“The selection of such projects should be done after consultations with the community. I, therefore, implore the community to be united and ensure that the funds availed are used for the intended projects and programmes,” said VP Chiwenga.
ZCDC has revamped and constructed school blocks for the local community.
“This is commendable and I encourage the company to continue engagements with the local community and their leadership.
“We should all be conscious that diamonds are a finite resource and it is necessary to have Corporate Social Responsibility projects that go beyond the lifespan of our mines.
“It is Government policy under the leadership of President Mnangagwa that communities where mining takes place should be empowered to sustain their livelihoods during and after mining activities have ceased,” said VP Chiwenga.
He urged mining stakeholders to uphold high ethical standards which saw Zimbabwe being certified compliant with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in 2022.
Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development Polite Kambamura said they are seized with creating a vision of sustainable, responsible and value driven mining operations.
He thanked the ZCDC for showing them insights into their operations.
ZCDC chief operating officer Mr Dennis Mtombeni said the vision of the company is continuous progression in value addition of diamonds.