In a move to enhance the gemstone mining sector in Zambia, President Hakainde Hichilema held a meeting at State House with a delegation led by Mr. Sean Gilbertson, the CEO of Gemfields Group, and Kagem Mining. The discussions revolved around key aspects of gemstone mining, including the formalization of artisanal miners and strengthening partnerships to create employment opportunities in this vital sector.
During the meeting, the President emphasized the importance of emulating successful models from neighboring countries to formalize artisanal miners. This approach is expected to stimulate economic growth and job creation within the sector. Notably, Kagem Mining, a prominent player in Zambia’s gemstone industry, is 25% owned by the Zambian people through the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
President Hichilema underscored the joint responsibility of safeguarding the country’s precious gemstone resources, as he stated, “With Kagem being 25% owned by the Zambian people through IDC, we are joint custodians of the people’s resources. It is through joint ventures and partnerships like this that we can grow this key sector, to benefit the people from our natural resource endowment.”
Zambia holds the distinction of being the world’s leading producer of emeralds, with its high-quality gemstones highly sought after and commanding premium prices in global markets. However, President Hichilema acknowledged the need to improve transparency and efficiency in the sector to ensure that the benefits of this resource endowment are maximized for the nation’s development.
The President pledged to continue engaging at this level to explore opportunities for the industry’s advancement, and he encouraged active participation from Zambians in the country’s economic development process. The gemstone sector is recognized as a crucial driver of economic growth, and the government’s commitment to fostering partnerships and enhancing transparency in this field is seen as a positive step toward realizing its full potential.
The gemstone sector holds significant promise for Zambia, and continued efforts to bolster its growth are expected to yield tangible benefits for the country.
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Zambia has reaped peanuts from is vast gemstone wealth………….
GRZ needs to train promising young Zambians in small scale mining operations and sale of minerals……….
This will boost zambian ownership of small scale mines and help stop the exodus of wealth from zambia……….
So long as there is no Zambian family or citizen running the mines it doesn’t matter…all you do is for the benefits of the foreigner
When we come out of nappy stage
then we may learn to run things
I wish Zambians would vote about what they want to do with their minerals because all these politicians still can’t explain what really goes on with our minerals
@Zambian by blood
Here we go again, complaints, complaints on and on.
Do it yourself.Do you have the knowledge,finances etc.???
If yes just do it and stop complaining.
While Zambians are sleeping this f00l hh is selling off the little we have left
We are slowly waking up after the PF misrule and l00ting
when your infighting in PF is over if ever ? benifits will be coming to all
and not you select few
IT IS OFTEN FORGOTTEN THAT ZAMBIANS ONCE OWNED THE MAJORITY OF EMERALD MINES BUT, THROUGH MISMANAGEMENT AND INDISCIPLINE, HAVE LOST THE MINES TO FOREIGNERS.
EVEN KAGEM WAS ONCE RUN BY A ZAMBIAN GENERAL MANAGER.
BUT WE DONT WANT TO BE TOLD SUCH FACTS!
WE NEED TO CHANGE
General Manager was in KK’s pocket Aron Milner was involved on behalf of KK
Ati: Government should train youths in Mining and etc bla! Bla! Bla! Same old slave mentality. And let me tell you, with this mindset, even if GRZ trained u and gave u a Licence ,you would still sell your Licence to a Chinese and work under him/her. Cos in mining, there is a saying that “you dig for a mine”. You don’t just find it there or handed out to you a silver plate. No!
Only praise singers now listen and believe what this man says. Quite boring stuff.