Zambia’s Emerald and Semi-precious Stones Mining Association is urging Chinese companies to partner with gemstone miners in Zambia. This, according to the association, is for purposes of exploring the vast potential of the country’s gemstone sector.
Victor Kalesha, president of the Emerald and Semi-precious Stones Mining Association, said Chinese enterprises have the means in terms of both expertise and technology. These, he noted, could be used to grow Zambia’s gemstone sector.
As such, he appealed to the national government through the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development is to foster partnerships between Chinese enterprises and the local miners in the gemstone-mining sector. This, he added, will enhance production and will go a long way towards positively impacting the economic growth of the country.
The official expressed optimism that the move, acting as value addition to the rich Zambian gemstones, will create hundreds of jobs for the local people. Mr. Kalesha pointed out that the industry has more than 400 smallscale mines, some of which are currently idle.
As such, the partnerships once fostered will come in handy in the revamping of such mines. This will be an advantage since some of the Chinese enterprises have conducted exploration works in the gemstone sector.
