CHINESE mining giant Anjin Diamond’s return to full-scale
operations in Chiadzwa is set to boost the country’s coffers as the company
used to contribute up to US$200 million to the economy before stopping mining
in 2016.
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 of
diamonds for the development of the economy.
Through unity of purpose and hard, honest work, said the
President, attainment of a US$12 billion mining industry economy and the
country’s vision 2030, was possible. Further, he said, his Government would do
all in its power to “change the quality of life of our people in all parts of
the country”. President Mnangagwa also implored Anjin and other mining
companies 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. 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.”
In 2016, Anjin was among several companies that were
affected by Government’s decision to let the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond
Company (ZCDC) become the sole diamond mining company allowed to operate in
Chiadzwa. After being given the nod to resume operations early this year, Anjin
has so far invested about US$38 million to resuscitate operations and about 500
people will be employed.
“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. 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. 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 commissioning ceremony was attended by Vice-President
Dr Constantino Chiwenga, Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston
Chitando, Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri,
Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube and Minister of State
for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ellen Gwaradzimba.
Yesterday’s visit to Manicaland was the President’s last
stop in a whirlwind economic projects tour, which began in Victoria Falls on
Thursday where he officially launched the National Tourism Recovery and Growth
Strategy.
The President led the restart of the sector, whose
contribution to the national economy has been heavily crippled by the outbreak
of Covid-19.
The National Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy seeks to
provide increased funding to affected tourism businesses, including small to
medium players within the tourism value chain through a Tourism Revolving Fund.
He also officially re-opened the Victoria Falls Rainforest,
signalling the country’s readiness to welcome visitors to the prime resort
destination. Earlier on President Mnangagwa had toured tourism facilities in
the resort town before commissioning the 19-suite luxurious Mbano Manor Hotel,
which was built using local funding. He also visited the massive 146-room Palm
Lodge facility, which is still under construction and is estimated to cost
close to US$24 million.
On Friday, the President commissioned a 32,2km stretch of
the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway under Phase One of the rehabilitation,
upgrading and widening project. The work is being done by local contractors.
The President had a brief stopover in Chivhu where Fossil
Contracting has completed 9km of which 7,2km has been opened for traffic, while
Masimba Construction, Exodus and Company, and Tensor Systems are at priming
stage and will start surfacing this month. Sunday News
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