Diversify mining, urges Lubemba

Diversify mining, urges Lubemba
By Gift Chanda
Tue 26 July 2011, 13:59 CAT

ZAMBIA should be keen to diversify its mining sector as well as increase exploration in other minerals since the country is not benefiting much from copper, says Zambia Women in Mining chairperson Mary Lubemba. Lubemba said the government should be eager to develop and increase exploration in emeralds, iron-ore, manganese, coal and uranium.

Commenting on the unveiling of a special jewellery collection for India last week, where deep colored emeralds from Zambia sparkled, Lubemba said this was testimony that Zambia’s mining sector was ripe for diversification.

She said time had come for the government to stop relying on copper alone as a country’s chief foreign exchange earner and should focus on other minerals.

Lumamba said the Zambian economy was too dependent on copper when other minerals like emeralds and gemstones had massive potential to contribute to the growth the country’s economy.

“There has been so much talk on copper and little focus on other minerals yet the copper sector had too many problems at the moment,” she said.

“But if you look at gemstones, other countries are making fortunes out of them. This is the sector the government should be keen to develop.”

Lubemba said unlike the copper, the gemstone business had shown some level of transparency.

“For gemstones you can not export without the government knowing, they keep track of the quantities leaving the country and for us this is the level of transparency that can benefit the country as a whole,” she said.

“If you also look at the way the gemstone operates, majority of owners are Zambians and if more support is given to this sector, employment to the locals will defiantly be guaranteed.”

Last week 10 top Indian jewellers unveiled a jewellery collection where they have created exciting new designs with Zambian emeralds for the special jewellery collection under the 'Emeralds for Elephants' project.

The collection also showcased a Ganesh installation by well known sculptor, Arzan Khambatta, called Emerald Avighna.