Maravi

ESMAZ urges govt to address smuggling of stones

ESMAZ urges govt to address smuggling of stones
By Correspondent
Tuesday May 13, 2008 [04:00]

EMERALD and Semi-precious Minerals Association of Zambia (ESMAZ) president Benjamin Njanji has urged the Ministry of Mines to put up policies that would deter the smuggling of stones from restricted areas. And mines minister Dr Kalombo Mwansa said the government would continue putting in place policies that would ensure the gemstone industry was developed and able to contribute to national development.

Speaking last weekend, when Dr Mwansa toured the gemstones mines in Lufwanyama district on the Copperbelt, Njanji said the association was worried that the emerald restricted area was not maintaining its restriction status.

Njanji said it was imperative that the status of being a restricted area was maintained to stop the smuggling of emeralds from the area.

He also said the association was worried that the gemstone sales certificates were being issued at the ministry, saying it was too open and was contributing to the flooding of gemstones on the black market disadvantaging the people on the ground
He urged the government to support the small-scale miners so that they could also improve their performance like their colleagues in the agricultural sector.

Njanji said small-scale farmers were doing fine because of the support they were receiving from the government hence it was imperative that government extended the same support to the small-scale miners to improve their operations.

He said the gemstone sector had the potential to create many job opportunities for the Zambian youths.

Dr Mwansa said he was happy that the small-scale mining industry was performing better and that the miners were showing seriousness in developing the sector.
Dr Mwansa said the government would always support the good efforts miners were putting up because its interest was to see the gemstone industry contribute to national development.

Labels: BENJAMIN NJANJI, ESMAZ, GEMSTONES, KALOMBO MWANSA

posted by MrK @ 11:05 AM