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Sharon Chigeza Mutare Correspondent
MUTARE City Council has officially handed over 12 hectares of land to the Zimbabwe School of Mines for the construction of a state-of-the-art gemology centre.
The gesture is expected to signal the commencement of construction work on the Government approved project.
Speaking at the deed donation signing ceremony, Mutare mayor Councillor Blessing Tandi said under the multi-million dollar partnership, the city provided the land and were committed to play their part to ensure the success of the project.
“The new state-of-the-art gemology park, which will be established in Fern Hill will change the face of Mutare and precede the establishment of world class infrastructure facilities.
“The local authority will establish road networks and provide water and sewer reticulation in the special economic zone area, while the Zimbabwe School of Mines has affirmed its commitment to financing the project together with other partners,” he said.
Clr Tandi said the signing of the deed donation heralded the beginning of a multi-million dollar project.
“Manicaland as a province has been remembered as this is the second multi-million dollar project after another proposed provincial airport and the construction of the new Sakubva Musika market by the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company,” he said.
Zimbabwe School of Mines acting chief executive officer, Mr Edwin Gwaze, thanked the City of Mutare for availing land for the establishment of the centre.
“The provision of land by the City Council of Mutare is in line with our vision as a school to expand and decentralise as well as foster value addition and beneficiation.
“At the same time what is more interesting is that the Government through the Ministry of Finance has declared Mutare a special export processing zone for gemology,” said Mr Gwaze.
Mr Gwaze said they chose Mutare because as an institution they were decentralising and that Manicaland province had the biggest volume of diamonds, which meant that the centre would be closer to raw materials.
He also said the gemology centre would have a training facility, hostels and other contemporary facilities.
“I have to reiterate that the gemology centre is not only diamonds because it is going to be dealing with all precious minerals.
“It will not only be dealing with cutting and polishing, but all aspects of beneficiation and value addition in the gemstone industry,” said Mr Gwaze.
Online Reporter