African countries to prioritize value addition of diamonds

By Tanaka Sigudu

His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa has challenged African countries to prioritize and scale up value addition and benefiaciation of diamonds to improve Economies.

Addressing delagates at the 8th Ordinary Meeting of the African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA) Committee of Experts and Council of Ministers in Victoria Falls on Thursday , President Mnangagwa said increasing value edition in the diamond sector leads to the realisation of the sustainable development goals through genarated income.

“It is our expectation that diamond mining and processing sectors significantly contribute to sustainable economic growth of our African economies. As incoming chair of ADPA Zimbabwe is determined to respectively coordinate and consolidate the work of the secretariat of this important organisation . On your part as Diamond producing Countries you are challenged to prioritize and scale up value addition and benefiaciation going into the future for the benefit of our respective Economies” , said H.E President Mnangagwa.

President Mnangagwa also touched on the importance of prospectors embarking on corporate social responsibility to help communities.

“Local communities should not be left behind and the society at large over and above the traditional contributions to our economic growth is paramount. The sector is further urged to qually adapt to the emerging global best practises in the mining sector related to environmental , social and governance reporting. This must result in sustainable businessess as a well as valuable impacts within the mining sector in general , communities within which you operate and the planet as a whole.”

Meanwhile Minister of Mines and Mining Development Hon Winston Chitando is now the Chairperson of the ADPA. He takes over from Tanzania Minister of Minerals Doto Biteko.

The ADPA was formed in 2006 as a continental branch of the African Diamond Council, Africa’s supreme diamond governing body. It includes 13 member states which include Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic , Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Namibia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzani, Togo and Zimbabwe.