President Hakainde Hichilema has reiterated the UPND government’s commitment to growing the economy through the value addition of the country’s mineral resources. The President emphasized that adding value to Zambian gemstones is essential for economic growth, and he called for the mapping of the country’s mineral areas to maximize their potential.
During a tour of Jewel of Africa in Lusaka, a local company specializing in adding value to precious minerals, President Hichilema commended the company for its efforts in processing and manufacturing assorted products from gemstones. He highlighted the need for both local and international companies to follow suit, setting up gemstone processing, mounting, and marketing facilities within Zambia.
“God has blessed Zambia with abundant minerals, and there is a need to exploit it fully by adding value to it and create jobs for the majority of Zambians,” President Hichilema stated, underlining the importance of fully tapping into the country’s gemstone industry.
The President called on geologists and mine experts to intensify efforts in mapping mineral areas to precisely identify where mineral concentrations are highest. He expressed the government’s commitment to invest in mechanized equipment for efficient mining of the country’s rich mineral deposits.
President Hichilema emphasized that the full exploitation of the gemstone industry would result in significant revenue for the country, contributing to vital sectors such as health and education. He disclosed that the government has adopted a deliberate policy to send students and other citizens for training in gemstone polishing and cutting at the Lapidary Training Centre in Ndola.
This initiative, according to the President, aims to provide opportunities for individuals to learn and enter the gemstone industry, ultimately creating jobs for the Zambian people.
Jewel of Africa Managing Director Ranjish Sharma highlighted the top-quality gemstones produced in Zambia, asserting their competitiveness at the international level. The company, established in 1982, remains dedicated to adding value to precious minerals as a means to contribute to the growth of the Zambian economy.
Copper and cobalt are the minerals we should emphasize on because their end product benefits even the poorest in our nation. Zamefa is a great example.
You Dejavu………
You claim to have a farm, but you are always on LT…….
This what UPND is complaining about, you get farm inputs but you would rather blog 24/7……….?
Go and do some farming iwe…
#Spaka. So to you if I have a farm then I can’t enjoy LT. At 16hrs I am going to collect the workers from the farm just like your master he’s always in air but his farms are operating.
#Spaka. I’m back from the farm so let’s talk.
@Spaka: This Deja Vu hates Tonga people, but has seized a piece of Tonga land, calling it a farm, on which predictably, he produces nothing, as he spends his time in Lusaka, living in a former government house, that his relative, Frederick Chipuba, stripped the councils of and gave to those speaking his language 30 years ago, leaving the councils without assets and unable to provide services, resultantly.
Look how attentive they look exposing their inferiority. You call this value addition but your own people illegal miners. Shame on these leaders. You are enriching foreign nationals who are taking advantage of our poor people and poor government decision making. You go after your own people hard but wear white gloves for foreigners.
@Futurezed
Imagine a Foreigner in a suit stealing our gemstones is worshipped but a youth from Chimwemwe in kitwe…or Kantolomba in Ndola or Chipulukusu trying to eke out a living is considered an illegal miner….something wrong with these Politicians….i was talking to a Friend of mine back home yesterday and he clearly said they’re is too much corruption and theft with our top leaders and too much suffering with the General population…and he is UPND
Be reasonable. Do you just want to be critical? Yes it does count as local value addition because it provides jobs, taxes and some spill-offs to some local companies. Admittedly, it would have been best if the owner were an indigenous Zambian but this is the next best thing. No-one has ever stopped an indigenous Zambian from legally mining or legally adding value to gemstones. So yes, if a Zambian engages in mining illegally, they should be rightfully called an ILLEGAL MINER.
@Makunku, so why did the government make all that effort to recover the miners who perished but called them illegal? Illegal in their place of birth but you prefer to get someone who can only offer you pocket change as taxes…get serious.
The construction of the Inga Dam has the potential to significantly propel economic growth and add value to the gemstone industry in several ways. Firstly, the dam will provide a reliable and sustainable source of hydroelectric power, which is essential for powering industrial and commercial activities. This will attract investment in manufacturing and other industries, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth in the region.
“ have bigger fish to fry”
This president is a hypocrite. Three smart diaspora based Zambians have raised $800 Dollars to invest in mining from a private equity company, the president is blocking them from getting a mining licenses in Eastern & Luapula Provinces of Mafinga, Chama and Mwense. He would rather allow foreigners or UPND supporter investors so that he can tell people in Eastern Province that we are creating jobs through UPND Investors to drum support for his re-election in Eastern & Luapula provinces.
It’s amazing how Zambians are so ignorant and can be cheated.
Bane exposure is good. They is no Zambians abroad who can raise $800m. We live here and we work in finance. No investors will give $800m to some Zambians to go invest in Zambia do not be cheated
The Engineer
Yours is a poor mindset and limiting beliefs. and its scary. What stops you ( #TheEngineer) lobbying for investment capital. £500 Billion in UK Capital Markets is waiting to be invested in Africa. All you need is belief & commitment to write a Comprehensive Investment Opportunity, include things investors need to know about Zambia such as:
1. Economic Stability.
2. Political Environment.
3. Legal and Regulatory Framework.
4. Market Size and Demographics
5. Infrastructure.
6. Cultural and Social Factors.
7. Trade and Investment Policies.
8. Currency and Exchange Rates
9. Security and Stability.
10. Tax Environment.
Good luck to these 3 people mentioned!
# TheEngineer
In life, if you say it’s impossible to do something – it means you don’t want it. Everything looks impossible until someone does it. Eighty (80%) of success happens when you turn up. If you don’t turn at the Olympics, then by default you have Zero (0) chance of winning a Gold Medal. In Africa – Fear, Limiting-beliefs, Inferiority Complex, Lack-of-doing Homework, Brainstorming and Research is what stops Africans from attracting financiers and investors. The future is electric car batteries. Western investors desperately want to invest in Africa to get raw materials or even manufacture batteries in Africa because labour costs will be cheaper. Yet, lack of coherent thinkingin Africa is a stumbling block.
@ INDEPENDENT OBSERVER = #5 Goals
@ TheEngineer = #0 Goals
@The Engineer, you have been schooled…….I have never been a fan of INDEPENDENT OBSERVER but I have to give him the scores.
@ Observer Independence
That is very insightful and refreshing. If we don’t believe in ourselves things will not fall from heaven like manner.
@INDEPENDENT OBSERVER
Ba @TheEngineer cannot write the investment plan and all the 10 points you have stipulated. All he does is bark. You have put him in his place and I dont believe he works in Financial services.
@Mutafela Mulife: What is there to mine in Luapula, or Eastern Province?? Malawi has no minerals, so how can you mine in Eastern Province.. As for Luapula, what mineral is there? Also, what can you mine with an investment of $800? That amount is not even enough for one pick, one shovel and one wheelbarrow…. Is it possible that someone is trying to launder illicitly obtained money here? Lastly, please use your correct name, which is something like Bwembya Chanda, and stop pretending to be a Lozi called Mutafela Mulife.
” … the president is blocking them from getting a mining licenses in Eastern & Luapula Provinces of Mafinga, Chama and Mwense.” Right. I guess you figure your PF colleagues are gullible enough to believe this! Also, “:…so that he can tell people in Eastern Province that we are creating jobs through UPND Investors “. The assumption would be that you have heard him, at any fora, telling people that he has created jobs through UPND investors!!! Reasonable effort though. Try harder next time.
@Mutafela’s……I saw the video clip on youtube by an executive of the USA Private Equity Company complaining that investments into Zambia are being blocked by politics. He was talking to someone from the – Royal School of Mines / Imperial College/London. We should be proud to see Zambians going out to raise money on international capital markets. This referencing the 3 Zambians you have mentioned.
@ Makunku….. You are shooting down @ Mutafela’s your comments because they are so blind, naïve and not savvy. HH is blocking investment in Zambia from his Community House, and no one can monitor him. He is in his private house. Don’t see everything as PF this and that. I saw don’t think Mutafela Mulilfe is PF he has been a staunch supporter of UPND for as long as he has been commenting.
…….Correction! I meant to say…
@ Makunku….. You are shooting down @ Mutafela’s comments because YOU ARE so blind, naïve and not savvy. HH is blocking investment in Zambia from his Community House, and no one can monitor him. He is in his private house. Don’t see everything as PF this and that. I saw don’t think Mutafela Mulilfe is PF he has been a staunch supporter of UPND for as long as he has been commenting.
To you everyone who complains is PF. Even those who belong to the PF have the right to complain. You are the worst people ever to run this country… even interfering with funerals because members of PF will be in attendance. What a strange culture you have brought in politics.
He is failing to manage the currency. You think he can manage minerals? All he knows is selling companies and resources that he doesn’t own
Iwe embwa mwitu KZ nyamaza mdomo chafu.
(translation: HH is doing a great job leading Zambia)
@ Munalula, perhaps I wouldn’t be so “so blind, naïve and not savvy” if claims that are made are verifiable. In my blindness and naivety I would wish someone to tell us who these Zambians are, when they applied, what responses they have received through the due process from those responsible for granting these Mining Licences and what leads to the conclusion that it is the president that is blocking the licences. Also, in my naivety I would wish to know the context of the “video clip on youtube by an executive of the USA Private Equity Company “. Again, my naivety leads me to the deduction that nothing that has been presented justifies assertions that a President living at Community House is blocking Zambian investments. I am happy to change my view point- only give me substance.
Just enjoy your last two and half years. You think by destroying the PF you will be guaranteed victory….. ask our founding party Unip.
@Makunku
Thats the question you should have asked the first time when you read my comments. You should asked to be educated about these Zambians in Diaspora. But you chose to shoot down and bring in PF calling everyone gullible. Thats the problem with you UPND cadres and blind followers. You think its only HH who can bring investments in Zambia. I guess its the limiting beliefs @OBSERVER is talking about.
Here….https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGhepft0&list=WL&index=3&pp=gAQBiAQB
Makunku
These people think every one is as crooked as they are…….
A liar is extremely dangerous…look at them shamelessly misleading Zambia. For Christ sake …stop it…Everyday lying is the order of the day. Which value addition! The mining sector is in a serious mess …the minerals foreigners are getting is non renewable. These people don’t have integrity..