EMERALD SECTOR LACKS PROPER GEOLOGICAL DATA – ESMAZ

By Lumbiwe Mwanza

THE emerald sector has continued to underperform because it lacks proper geological information, mining equipment, and operating capital among the local emerald miners, the Emerald and Semi-precious Stones Mining Association of Zambia (ESMAZ) has observed.

ESMAZ president Victor Kalesha told The Scoop that the sector had proved to be a very viable project but lacked the potential to attract investors that could help enhance production for economic growth.

Mr. Kalesha explained that due to lack of proper geological information which was a prerequisite to investment and for documenting the extent of natural mineral resources, emerald mining had not been progressive to adequately contribute to the economy.

He said that efforts aimed at developing the emerald sector needed to be scaled up to enable it to adequately contribute to the national treasury.

“Currently, we only have two emerald giants; Grizzly Mining Limited and Kagem Mining Limited, contributing to the national treasury in terms of taxes. The two giants are also instrumental in providing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). If we do not see any more emerald mines emerging, it means that the emerald sector will only have these two mines that are operational and auctioning.

“For multinational companies, the emerald sector is performing well but for the locals, it is not as there is no access to finance and no proper geological information for the local small-scale miners. This remains a stumbling block to the much needed progress in the extractive industry,” Mr. Kalesha said.

He said that the Government needed resources to develop the country and that the emerald sector was one such sector it needed to take advantage of.

He said that if more modalities were put in place by the Government to take the industry seriously and engage stakeholders in dialogue to forge the way forward, it would awaken the sleeping giant in emerald mining.

He said that the association remained resolute towards working with the Government to realise the potential of the emerald sector in the country.

He said that the small-scale miners were ready to demonstrate resilience, patience, discipline, and acquire proper management and technical skills for the sector to improve its production capacity and contribute to the economy.