ESMAZA counsels HH
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema should revisit his plans to invite expertise from Botswana to help in the management of Zambia’s diamonds because Zambia has much more expertise in terms of managing its resources, Emerald and Semi-Precious Metals Association of Zambia (ESMAZ) President Victor Kalesha has said.
Mr Kalesha said President Hichilema should know that the problem was that people at the Ministry of Mines and other related ministries that were attached to management of minerals do not want to engage experts who can come up with models that would benefit the country and its people.
Mr Kalesha was reacting to the statement by President Hichilema at the launch of the Lusaka arbitration centre where he said Zambia need to invite expertise from Botswana in the management of minerals.
Mr Kalesha said his association was against of the idea because the country had enough experts who can set a firm ground for the development of various minerals.
“So, as it is, we want to tell the Republican President that we have enough expertise in Zambia, we can’t be learning from Botswana to market or store the diamonds or emeralds. We would like to tell the President to revisit his decision of inviting expertise from Botswana to help us manage the diamonds” Mr Kalesha said.
“We have mining engineers, we have geologists who understands what to do with our emeralds. The issue that the President announced at the private public forum in Lusaka that 20 percent of all the emeralds produced must remain in the country for value addition is one of the things we have been advocating for.
Mr Kalesha has also said government must get 50 percent shares percent in Kagem Emerald Mining Company so that the country can start benefiting more.