NEW: Diamonds should benefit our communities – President

Online Reporter

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has said maintaining high ethical standards, good extractive practices and peaceful co-existence with communities, are essential to protect and retain the viability of Africa’s diamond industry.

Officiating at the Ninth Ordinary Meeting of the African Diamond Producers Association Council of Ministers in Victoria Falls on Thursday, President Mnangagwa said:

“Given that our diamonds are a finite resource, we must not accept trinkets, but corporate social investment projects that have far-reaching impacts on the productivity and quality of lives of benefitting communities.

“These must dovetail with our broader national and continental development agenda.

“Communities where mining takes place should be empowered to sustain their livelihoods long after mining activities have ceased operations.”

The President said the benefits and interests of Africans should be the guiding key when it comes to the exploitation of abundant natural resource endowments.

“It is commendable that key decisions have been made at this forum, especially on the backdrop of current challenges associated with new diamond export protocols and declining rough diamond prices.

“Our collective voice must be heard and greater collaboration, cooperation and partnerships remain the panacea to win-win benefits and prosperity within the diamond mining sector,” said President Mnangagwa.

Zimbabwe’s diamond sector has been on an upward growth trajectory, in terms of both production output and revenue generation.

Zimbabwe is the current chair of the 19-member African Diamond Producers Association.