Multi-million-dollar diamond cutting hub in the pipeline
PLANS by the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) to construct a Gemology Park, including a multi-million dollar diamond cutting and processing hub in Fern Valley, Mutare, are at an advanced stage, with architectural drawings already in place, a Government minister has said. Initiatives to lure other local diamond cutting and polishing companies to partner ZCDC or relocate to Mutare are also in the pipeline as part of efforts to fully exploit the precious mineral. Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said this during the launch of ZCDC’s Diamond Super Cup held at a local hotel in Mutare on Tuesday, where she was the guest of honour. Minister Mutsvangwa was represented by the director of provincial affairs in her office, Mr Kennedy Mugarisanwa, who read a speech on her behalf. Three teams will participate in the soccer tournament to be played this weekend. “The management has said that they have set aside a certain percentage of their monthly projects towards community development projects,” said Minister Mutsvangwa. “This is highly commendable as this speaks volumes about your being responsible, transparent and accountable. “I am also highly informed that the company is also at advanced stages of setting up a Gemology Park here in Mutare, which will see a multi-million dollar diamond processing hub in Fern Valley.” Minister Mutsvangwa said she was also informed that ZCDC had already been allocated land for setting up the Gemology Park. “Land has already been availed and architectural drawings are available for this project,” she said. “Arrangements are being made with other local diamond cutting and polishing companies to relocate to Mutare under two manufacturing agreements, which they shall be entering with ZCDC.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said as Government, they were looking forward to seeing more corporates coming up with such initiatives.
“There are other projects where ZCDC will be partnering with Minister of State’s office and Mutare City Council to roll out in the short term, which will promote the creation of employment for the youths and the rehabilitation of the trading point of farm produce,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa said Manicaland was pinning hopes for development on ZCDC, as previous miners left nothing to show from the revenue they collected over the past years.
“Allow me to thank ZCDC upfront for the gesture they have shown, not only through this event, but ever since they came into existence,” she said. “Contrary to what you have been hearing, ladies and gentlemen, the expectations of Government, Manicaland community, civil society and other stakeholders, since the discovery of diamonds in Chiadzwa, development in this province does not reflect the wealth that it has produced in the form of diamond revenue.”
Minister Mutsvangwa added: “Being the region from where the precious minerals are being mined and were initially discovered in significant proportion, Manicaland should benefit from the mining activities.
“As Government, we expect to see significant infrastructural and social investment coming from the diamond mining sector. Sadly, this was not the case with the former mining companies that were mining before consolidation, as there is little to show for the years they mined in Marange and Chimanimani.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said although ZCDC was formed barely two years ago, it had adopted a community driven social responsibility approach, which was informed by the desire to address key societal and environmental issues that impact on people’s well being and environment.