- August 4, 2020
- Posted by: adminz
- Category: News
President Mnangagwa cuts the ribbon to mark the launch of Anjin Mining Company’s official resumption of work in Chiadzwa. He is flanked by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga (second from right), Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri (right), Anjin board chairman Mr Jiang Qingde (second from left) and Minister of Finance Mthuli Ncube (left). — Picture: Tinai Nyadzayo
4 August 2020
CHINESE mining giant Anjin Diamond’s return to full-scale operations in Chiadzwa is set to boost the country’s coffers as Government steps up efforts to “change the quality of life of our people in all parts of the country”.
Speaking at a ceremony to launch Anjin Diamond Mining Company’s official resumption of operations in Chiadzwa yesterday, President Mnangagwa said his Government was determined to restore productivity in the diamonds sector to develop the economy.
Through unity of purpose and hard, honest work, said the President, attainment of a US$12 billion mining industry and the country’s Vision 2030, was possible.
Anjin contributed about US$200 million to the economy before it stopped mining in 2016. It has so far invested US$38 million to resuscitate operations and will soon employ about 500 people.
President Mnangagwa implored the company and other firms operating in Chiadzwa to prioritise employment of locals, especially women and youths.
“I urge Anjin and other companies here to ensure that women and youths are the largest beneficiaries of employment opportunities being created. I urge mining firms to undertake relevant responsive corporate social responsibility programmes for the benefit of local communities,” said the President.
“I am informed that there is a place in India where there is no diamond mine, but they have a US$5 billion diamond industry. I’m told Zimbabwe contributes a lot of diamonds there. I don’t know how those diamonds get there.
“We need that value addition done here in Zimbabwe, not elsewhere so that we extract maximum value of the minerals which we have. With unity of purpose, hard, honest work and greater determination, the realisation of the US$12 billion mining economy and the attainment of our national vision 2030 will soon become a reality.”
Anjin was among several companies affected by Government’s decision to let the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) become the sole diamond mining company operating in Chiadzwa.
“Our decision in 2016 affected the production of diamonds for the last four years. We are now determined to restore the productivity of diamonds for the development of our economy,” said the President.
“I made a decision to personally travel around the country to inspect various development programmes and investments which are underway within all our provinces. As a servant leader, I am leading a Government which is people-orientated. We will do all that is possible to change the quality of life of our people in all parts of the country.”
President Mnangagwa also revealed that exploitation of various diamond deposits outside Manicaland is set to begin soon.
He said authorities were now aware of various deposits of diamonds outside Manicaland and soon some of these places will be exploited.
“It is our desire that both local and foreign investors should come and take up investment opportunities in the diamond industry. We must look beyond the horizon and develop robust strategies to come up with a thriving mining sector to grow our economy.
“You will recall that at the advent of the Second Republic, my Government made a deliberate pronouncement to allow foreign owned companies, Anjin and Alrosa, to participate in the diamond mining sector. This strategic decision was informed by the long standing relationship between Zimbabwe and China as well as Russia, who stood by us during our bitter armed struggle to liberate this country,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said Zimbabwe would soon be an exporter of electricity.
“Those of you who do not have short memories will remember that three or four weeks ago I was in Hwange where I visited nine companies of which seven of them are Chinese, while two are locals. By 2023 these companies should be generating in excess of 6 900MW of power. That will make Zimbabwe energy sufficient and be able to export part of that energy.
“It was a shame that in the immediate past we had begun to import coal from Botswana when we have abundant coal in this country. That will not happen again under the current administration. We are determined not only to produce adequate coal for ourselves, but enough to export and that is on course,” said President Mnangagwa. – The Sunday Mail
