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Rumbidzayi Zinyuke Manicaland Bureau
The Zimbabwe School of Mines (ZSM) is pushing for the fast-tracking of the construction of the Gemology Centre in the Fernhill Special Economic Zone to propel the value addition and beneficiation of precious minerals in the country.
The Gemology Centre is part of efforts by Government to meet objectives set under the economic blueprint to attain an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
Government allocated the centre $30.5 million this year to spur the project, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic and other logistical challenges, the project is yet to start.
ZSM acting chief executive Mr Edwin Gwaze said although there had been delays, they were now geared up for work to begin.
“We were disturbed by the Covid-19 national lockdown which started in March when we were supposed to have commenced work. So nothing has happened since then, but we now have exemption letters and we will be travelling to Mutare to have a meeting on-site with the Department of Public Works who are supposed to manage the project, the Mutare City Council and other stakeholders,” he said.
Initially, the establishment of the centre was supposed to be spearheaded by the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company, under the ambit of the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development. However, due to the company’s funding challenges, the project has since been moved to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, with the Department of Public Works being the contractors.
Mr Gwaze said the meeting would then determine the way forward as the committee will have to agree on ways around various issues affecting the project.
He said the funds from Treasury might no longer be sufficient to cover the initial works on the project hence there will be need to engage Treasury.
“Treasury had promised $30,5 million, but it might not be enough to cover all the works we have lined up. When we meet, these are some of the issues we will need to discuss. We need the support from Government and its partners to continue funding the project,” said Mr Gwaze.
He said the meeting will also seek to review the timelines for the project considering the amount of time that has been lost.
Fernhill is one of the four Special Economic Zones in the country and seeks to leverage on the precious minerals, particularly diamonds, to promote value addition.
The centre will be the nucleus of the SEZ poised to entice investment.
Mutare City Council in March released title for the 80-hectares of land in Fernhill to the Zimbabwe School of Mines to make it easier for the centre of attract foreign direct investment to enable it to achieve set targets.
The centre is expected to feed into the diamond cutting and polishing value chain and will be subdivided into four sections — the School of Gemology, which will offer training courses across the value chain; the Diamond Manufacturing and Lapidary, which will house cutting and polishing companies; the Jewellery Blacksmith and Manufacturing for Blacksmiths and Manufacturers; as well as ancillary services that will house all supporting businesses.
Plan Infrastructure Development were appointed the designers for the centre and has already submitted the project designs to the department of Public works for approval.
Online Reporter