adminNgoni Dapira
MANICALAND business community has lauded Zanu-PF Provincial Co-ordinating Committee for its recent deliberations on developmental projects in the province, particularly on diamond polishing and cutting.Acting provincial chairman Dr Samuel Undenge said that they had earmarked building a diamond polishing and cutting centre and state-of-the-art conference facilities of international standards in Mutare among several other value addition and beneficiation projects throughout the province.
Industries have closed down in Manicaland, but as a party we do not want to be found wanting. We have decided to be a creator of employment and plans are already at an advanced stage to secure land for the development of a diamond and cutting centre in Manicaland.”
He added, “We cannot continue watching our resources being used to develop other areas. Zanu-PF should be an employer and not perennial beggars. There is donor fatigue out there and gone are the days of moving around with begging bowls,” said Dr Undenge.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries national vice-chairman Mr Henry Nemaire said as a chamber they had always earmarked Manicaland as the ideal diamond hub.
“As CZI our position has always been to have diamonds cut and polished in Manicaland turning Mutare into a diamond city flourishing from the Chiadzwa diamonds.
“This will create a new-industry and big employer following the closure of its past-biggest employer, Mutare Board and Paper Mills, in 2009. So we are very much upbeat about the forthcoming developments our provincial political leadership has earmarked. It is high time we focus on bread and butter issues as a nation,” said Mr Nemaire.
Mr Nemaire, however, said timelines were important to avoid talk shops.
He added that immediate engagement with local businesspeople for buy-in on earmarked projects was important to get the ball rolling.
Local businessman, who was among the first in Mutare to invest in a diamond polishing and cutting factory in 2009 operating as Goodcrew Investment, Mr Joseph Sanhanga, said he was happy that the provincial political leadership had finally come on board.
“As Manicaland we were sitting on a very beneficial value addition and beneficiation programme, so I am glad our provincial political leadership is now on board.
“Personally I am ready and have always been ready to talk business that steers futuristic development in the province.
“If it is land I am willing to offer land at my Valley of Kings Township and even invest in the diamond polishing and cutting centre project.
“I have extensive knowledge on diamond polishing and cutting from past research when we ventured to open a factory. So I know the huge employment creation opportunities and money-spinning opportunities the project has for the province if done properly,” said Mr Sanhanga.
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce national president Mr Hlanganiso Matangaidze, who is on record as saying that in 2012 over $125 million of the Chiadzwa diamonds value additional income was lost to Surat in India creating 60 000 jobs, applauded the call but said further research was needed.
He suggested a visit to Surat where the diamond polishing and cutting industry was now advanced.
“Zimbabwe is estimated to account for at least 25 percent of the global rough diamond supply. This shows that we have a lot of diamonds. We should not be crying of high unemployment with such natural resources at our disposal,” said Mr Matangaidze.
He, however, said the provincial political leaders should first push for Mutare Polytechnic to have a diamond polishing and cutting diploma to ensure that local human resource would be on hand.
“There is also need for Government to create a conducive environment for local players in the sector to operate freely and be assured of its support. We do not want the inconsistency in policy like the last time when diamond polishing and cutting fees were astronomically hiked after many local players had invested heavily in the sector.
“Surat is our best case study and a delegation comprising of government officials and businesspeople should tour the diamond city that has become a success story from its booming polishing and cutting industry,” said Mr Matangaidze.
The PCC resolution comes as a positive move given that last year in February Government reduced licence fees for local diamond polishing and cutting firms from $100 000 to $20 000 for 10 years ($2 000 per annum).
Mutare in 2009 had about 10 licensed diamond polishing and cutting firms, but since the amendments last year only two reapplied and only five have reapplied in total nationally.
Mr Matangaidze said this was a sign that businesspeople did not have confidence in government’s policy consistency.
Online Reporter