ZAMBIAN GEMSTONES
Hello sir, I am Lawrence Banda. Thank you so much for the heart you have for this great republic of Zambia. I read the article you wrote on 10th July, 2019 almost a year ago. Sir my heart bleeds when I see we the indigenous of this country remain POOR and yet we are a rich county. Why are our leaders not looking into the mining of gemstones to be given to Zambians? Am interested into mining emerald but the support capital I do not have. Foreigners are the ones getting rich out of our God given minerals. One of the guys in Chipata told me that people come as far as Kenya to grab the gold in Eastern Province. Just recently I heard that mining of gold in Eastern Province has been given to a foreign Company including the equipment, my question is why not empower young Zambian entrepreneurs? In Luano Valley a man from Kabwe was telling me that Tanzanians are there mining our gold freely they even harass Zambians in our own Country. Where are we going, where is the leadership in this Country? We cannot be in white collar jobs, doctors nurses etc no. That is why we have mines, industries, transport etc. As a Zambian, I want to have a share in gemstone mining. Sir help me.
Warm Regards. Lawrence Banda.
Mr. Banda’s letter like many others puts a lot of blame on government, of course, successive governments have their own share of blame but I think the citizens must also equally share the blame; our emeralds, gold, silver, amethyst, garnets, mukula trees, rosewood, ivory, leopard and lion skins and rhino horns are taken out of the country largely by illegal immigrants.
Government wings are partly to blame for illegal immigrants operating in our country. On the other hand, all Zambian citizens are also to blame for welcoming the illegal immigrants to steal our natural resources. It’s the Zambians who harbour the illegal immigrants, it’s Zambians who sell the precious and semi-precious minerals to foreigners.
And most importantly, it’s Zambians who misuse the money they make from illegal dealings. We all know the stories of the kagem boys on the Copperbelt. Young Zimandolas made a lot of money, although they did not get even ten percent of the real value of the emeralds, but what did they do with the money?
Most of the money that Zambians made was spent on womanising, partying and buying luxury goods. The scenario has continued today with the Jerabos and the money they are making from copper. They even buy the most expensive guns from our copper concentrate!
It is more important for the mentality of every Zambian to change for us to reap the benefits from our natural wealth. In one neighbouring country, the citizens are so protective of their diamonds they will report every illegal immigrant they see in their village or town.
We should also change the way we manage money. The European Union at one time gave Zambia seed money for amethyst mining in Kalomo, we failed to utilise the money during the MMD era because of government as well as the small-scale miners’ attitude.
I hope that since we have now woken up to reality, the government can put a policy in place for better management of our wealth. I also believe Government has a duty to mobilise resources for interested Zambians to be able to engage not only in mining, but processing and value addition to our gemstones.
On the other hand, the citizens must make their contribution by refusing to deal with illegal immigrants. How can people from East Africa be harassing Zambians in Luano Valley, where are the chiefs and the local administrations?
We should not waste time creating fictitious stories of alleged illegal dealings in gold by the state and government officials as though we are angels; we all have a share of the blame.