President Emmerson Mnangagwa has challenged a Chinese mining company, Anjin Diamond, to prioritise the employment of women and youths as well as to undertake corporate social responsibility programmes for the benefit of local communities.
President Mnangagwa made the remarks while speaking at a ceremony to launch Anjin Diamond Mining Company’s official resumption of operations in Chiadzwa on Saturday. He said:
I urge Anjin and other companies here to ensure that women and youths are the largest beneficiaries of employment opportunities being created. I urge mining firms to undertake relevant responsive corporate social responsibility programmes for the benefit of local communities. I am informed that there is a place in India where there is no diamond mine, but they have a US$5 billion diamond industry.
… We need that value addition done here in Zimbabwe, not elsewhere so that we extract maximum value of the minerals which we have. With unity of purpose, hard, honest work and greater determination, the realisation of the US$12 billion mining economy and the attainment of our national vision 2030 will soon become a reality.
Anjin was among several companies that were affected by Government’s decision to let the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) become the sole diamond mining company allowed to operate in Chiadzwa in 2016.
The company was however given the green light to resume operations early this year and has reportedly invested US$38 million to resuscitate operations.