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Post Reporter
THE establishment of a gemology centre in the Fernhill Special Economic Zone just outside Mutare near Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences has taken shape, with construction work of the first phase progressing well and expected to be completed by next month.
This was said by Manicaland public works director Engineer Tendayi Chiwanza during a tour of the site to assess the project status and progress.
He was accompanied by Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mr Edgars Seenza and other officials from his office and Department of Public Works.
At its completion, the gemology centre is expected to drive the diamond cutting and polishing value chain in Manicaland Province and the country at large.
This is in line with the objectives set out in National Development Strategy (NDS1) of achieving an upper middle-income economy by the year 2030.
Eng Chiwanza said they are well on course to complete the first phase of the project by next month.
“Work on the first phase, which comprises erecting a security wall and fence right round the premises as well as a guard room at the entrance, is going on very well and we expect to complete it by mid-February. We have also sunk two boreholes and equipped them with storage tanks.
“All the material required to complete this part of the project is now on site. We can safely say we have now covered almost half of all the work that needs to be done here,” said Eng Chiwanza.
Mr Seenza hailed Government for funding the project and also commended the Department of Public Works for the work they are carrying out on site, which he described as progressive.
Online Reporter