COME UP WITH IDEAS TO ENABLE ZAMBIA BENEFIT FROM MINERAL RESOURCES
ENGINEERS and other technocrats at the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development must give ideas to the government on how best the country can fully benefit from its mineral resources, particularly the gemstone industry, Emerald Production Watch of Zambia (EPWOZ) has said
EPWOZ President Musa Kafimbwa said engineers at the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development must make their presence felt in the gemstone industry by being innovative and making sure that they advance ideas that will benefit the country.
In an interview in Kitwe yesterday, Mr Kafimbwa said if right policies and ideas, were put in place for the gemstone industry, in particular, to benefit the country, they would help the country to reduce on borrowing, fund its own capital projects that would help to alleviate poverty and support sectors like agriculture.
He said Zambia was a rich country . endowed with natural resources like gemstones which should not be borrowing money to stabilise its economy, but poor policies have for a long time seen the country losing millions of money
“Yes, for a long time now, the country has been losing millions of money because of lack of good policies and ideas to ensure that the country benefits from its natural resources like gemstones.
“This is why we are challenging Engineers and other technocrats in the Ministry of Mines to give ideas to the government on how best the country can fully benefit from the gemstone industry. This is a very profitable industry which can help the country to reduce on borrowing and set the stage for economic recovery,’’ Mr Kafimbwa said.
Mr Kafimbwa added,’’ We have Emeralds, We don’t need to borrow. We have very good Emerald sites let’s get in and save Zambia from shame. We don’t need to see our boys on dumpsites. We know where 1000 Jobs can be created.”
Mr Kafimbwa has also urged the Ministry of Labour to ensure that jobs which can be done by Zambians in the gemstone industry are not given to foreigners, but are given to local Zambians.