Maravi

FSSMAZ calls for re-introduction of patrols in gemstone mining

FSSMAZ calls for re-introduction of patrols in gemstone mining
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Wednesday June 11, 2008 [04:00]

Federation of Small-Scale Miners Association of Zambia (FSSMAZ) has declared that its biggest objective is to eliminate illegal foreign middlemen whom they accuse of plundering from small-scale miners in the country. FSSMAZ inaugural president Pauline Shialumba Mundia has urged the government to re-introduce the routine patrols in gemstone mining areas to help eliminate illegal foreigners who were conducting business there.

In interview, Mundia announced that about 14 local small-scale miners in the country would next month participate in the diamond and gemstone expo in the United States.
“The foreign illegal traders have for a long time now been plundering our natural resources because when they come, they offer very low prices which make it difficult for our miners to plough back whatever they sale into the businesses and at the same time contribute effectively to the economy of Zambia,” Mundia said. “We want to eliminate the middlemen so that our miners start dealing directly with the end users so that the sector is able to get the true value of their gemstones unlike at the moment whereby the stones go through many hands, sometimes three to four hands before they reach the end users.”

Mundia said in that way, the miners suffered because they ended up selling at very low prices.

“That is why we want to take our members to the expo in US next month, so that we can allow our miners to have direct contacts with the end users for the metals unlike now when they have to deal with middle men,” he said.
And Mundia said the gemstone sector in the country still faced a challenge of lack of infrastructure for marketing the commodity.

“The gemstone exchange is there in Ndola but then it has not really started but it is in the pipeline. But on the same gemstone exchange, we wish the government could develop a system where there could a mean gemstone exchange in every area where there are major mine operations,” said Mundia.

Labels: FSSMAZ, MINING

posted by MrK @ 5:47 AM