His Excellency, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa
By Lisca Philo
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called for peace, stability, and unity among African nations to bolster the diamond industry’s future in the continent .
Speaking at the 9th Ordinary Meeting of the African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA) Council of Ministers in Victoria Falls, president Mnangagwa highlighted the need for mining entities across Africa to embrace cooperation as well as sustainable mining practices.
“Peace, security, and stability are essential ingredients for successful mining operations and diamond trade, and we must do all we can to protect these pillars.
“We must work together as African nations to create a secure and prosperous future,” said president Mnangagwa.
The conference is being held under the theme “Special Forum: Intra-African Dialogue on Rough Diamond Beneficiation and Value Addition” with an aim to enhance collaboration for economic benefits from diamond resources, emphasizing value addition to strengthen Africa’s position in the global market.
The conference also focused on ethical practices, human rights, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for responsible and sustainable production.
President Mnangagwa, who expressed optimism on the diamond sector growth, challenged African states to work in unizone in finding solutions to bust new diamond export protocols and the decline in rough diamond prices.
Said the president: “Key decisions have been made, and the momentum should bring us together to tackle the current problems.”
“As the people of Africa, we must move beyond narratives where it is questioned whether our rich natural resources are a blessing or a curse. We must leverage our natural resource endowments to build our beloved continent,” said.
He further emphasized the importance of diamonds in improving community lives and emphasized sustainable development.
“Our diamonds are a finite resource; we must not accept trinkets but aim for corporate social investment projects that align with our broader national and Continental developmental agenda,” he added.
President Mnangagwa gave an overview of the Zimbabwe’s diamond sector, acknowledging challenges but also noting growth in production and revenue.
Zimbabwe, the seventh-largest natural diamond producer globally, has placed premium on compliance with international standards to ensure peaceful coexistence within mining communities.
In Zimbabwe examples of the corporate social responsibility success stories include the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC)’s SCED program, which supports local enterprise development with funding of about US$60,000. RZM Murowa has also contributed to community welfare by building a hospital, schools, and offering bursaries for students.
