China agrees to train Zim diamond cutters

CHINA has agreed to train locals in diamond cutting and polishing, with the first batch of 25 students leaving for the Asian country next month, as part of Government's quest to value add the mineral as espoused in the country's economic blue print — Zim Asset.

The deal was brokered by the Zimbabwe School of Mines (ZSM) working with Foshan City Shunde District Zheng Jingyi Vocational Technology School and Harvest Way Diamond and Jewellery Private Limited (Ltd) all from China.

The three partners on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Bulawayo which will see the selected students being trained in cutting and diamond polishing in China.

The signing of the tripartite agreement follows President Mugabe's state visit to China last year where he managed to tour Foshan City Shunde District Zheng Jingyi Vocational Technology School and held talks with the institution's officials to consider training Zimbabwean students in diamond cutting and polishing.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, ZSM chief executive officer Mr Dzingirai Tusai said the first group of 25 students selected from various parts of the country was expected to leave for China in March for a one year training course while the second batch would follow after three months.

"The group that is going to be trained in China is going to do On the Job Training. We actually inspected the equipment that is going to be used in training the Zimbabwean students, which is of course all new. There are partners in China who are actually looking at putting up a factory in Zimbabwe where the students that will be coming back will have exposure.

"The students will undergo skills training in China and those that will succeed will be further trained to become supervisors or tutors. We are looking at setting up gemology centres in various parts of the country. This will be the first team to be able to evaluate our diamonds and above all we are expecting this group to be the first to run their own businesses being able to beneficiate gems in the country," Mr Tusai said.

The recruitment of students was done directly by the Chinese company, Harvest Way Diamond and Jewellery Private Ltd.

"The Harvest Way project responds to the Zim Asset Agenda in that we are attempting to achieve a sustainable beneficiating programme for the diamond industry through our partnership with the ZSM and the Zheng Jingyi Vocational Technology School.

"The project gives every youth an opportunity to take part in the diamond industry. We have recruited the most brilliant students across all the provinces. These students form the core seed for the industry. The successful students will return to Zimbabwe and work for Harvest Way in its factories. We hope that other companies will follow our example so that together we can make Zimbabwe the diamond hub of the world," said Harvest Way Diamond and Jewellery Private Ltd managing director Dr Edwin Gwenzi.

Harvest Way Diamond and Jewellery Private Ltd chairman Mr Mannix Shek said Zimbabwe was a "young market" with the potential for growth and as such his company was looking forward to embark on various projects to stimulate the country's economy.

"I can safely say this is the start of the project. We have a series of projects planned for this country. We aim to create a sustainable business environment together with the Government and its people, however, to achieve this we have to work in harmony like chop sticks. This means that we both have to work together to make things happen," he said.

Speaking at the same occasion Mines and Mining Development Permanent Secretary Professor Francis Gudyanga said Zimbabwe with an estimated 25 to 30 percent of the world's diamonds stands to immensely benefit from beneficiation and adding value to the mineral than trading on it in its raw state.

"There have been lies that have been peddled that all the alluvial diamonds have run out but the truth is that they are still there and in the next few months we will be able to reveal that. The exploration which has been done by De Beers for about 50 years has also proved that there are kimberlites in some parts of Matabeleland North and South provinces," he said.

Kimberlite is an igneous rock best known for sometimes containing diamonds.

The latest development comes at a time when the Government has also moved to ensure that diamonds fall under its control.

Last week Government announced it has given diamond mining companies operating in Marange a 90-day ultimatum to wind up operations after they refused to co-operate in the formation of a consolidated mining company.

There are six miners in Marange, including Anjin Investments, Diamond Mining Company, Jinan, Kusena, Marange Resources and Mbada Diamonds.

This means Government will have total control over the mining of diamonds in the area.