Story by Cellah Marere
Government says it is strengthening its focus on value addition and beneficiation of the country’s minerals to align mining sector growth with the SADC Industrialisation Agenda.
The SADC Industrialisation agenda has provided a campus for member states to harness their natural resource base to stimulate economic growth and increase export revenue.
Speaking to ZBC News, Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister, Honourable Polite Kambamura indicated that, in line with this mandate, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development is implementing a raft of measures to expand the current drive to value-add on gold, diamond and lithium.
“The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development is currently drafting a strategy whereby where minerals are found, industrialisation will also take place. This will bring centres of excellence and promote employment creation in those places. The Zimbabwe School of Mines has already established a diamond-cutting and polishing facility. The government has also banned the exporting of raw minerals to promote value addition and beneficiation in Zimbabwe,” he said.
With President Emmerson Mnangagwa having assumed the SADC Chairmanship and ongoing the industrialisation drive, there is renewed optimism for enhanced prospects for the local mining sector.
“The coming in of H.E President E.D Mnangagwa as Chairman of SADC will unlock opportunities for funding, skills and knowledge transfer, collaboration, memoranda of understanding and joint ventures in the mining sector. Our vision is to see the region being a powerhouse in terms of energy sufficiency, in terms of mineral beneficiation and value addition as well as skills and knowledge transfer,” he added.
This position is building on the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap developed in 2015, which supports exporting finished products to improve revenue, create employment and open the region to enhanced investment.
