By NATION REPORTER
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says Government and players in the mining sector will continue to collaborate in order to find ways of growing the gemstone sector.
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Speaking when he held a meeting at State House yesterday with a delegation led by Mr Sean Gilbertson, Chief Executive Officer of Gemfields Group and Kagem mining, President Hichilema said there is need to officialise artisanal miners as opportunities and employment are being created in this strategic sector.
He said the government wants to see that strategies that are being implemented in neighbouring countries are actualised.
He said joint ventures especially in the gemstone sector, can help in growing this key sector to benefit the people.
“With Gemfields being 25 percent owned by the Zambian people through IDC, we are joint custodians of the people’s resources. It is through joint ventures and partnerships like this that we can grow this key sector, to benefit the people from our natural resource endowment.
Zambia is the top producer of emeralds globally with our quality of gemstones being sought after, fetching good prices. However more needs to be done to bring transparency and efficiency in this sector, so that we can deliver development to citizens.
“We shall continue engaging at this level and call on Zambians to be active participants in this economic development process,” Mr Hichilema said.
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