By JUDITH NAMUTOWE –

THE Emerald and Semi Precious Stones Mining Association of Zambia (ESMAZ) has appealed to Government to assist emerald miners set up a plant-hire scheme.
ESMAZ general secretary Victor Kalesha said this when he made a presentation on the emerald industry at the just-ended mining indaba in Ndola.
Mr Kalesha said government should step in and help emerald miners to establish a plant-hire scheme because they had the potential to contribute to economic growth.
He said the association had noted that the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC), Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ) and other lending institutions were not willing to help small scale miners.
“In this case we feel government should step in and help small-scale miners in the emerald industry which has the potential to contribute to national economy.
“We expect government to come in and establish a plant hire scheme for emerald miners, which will assist them, access equipment either on loan or part time basis,” he said.
Mr Kalesha said the association was aware of the Government’s intentions of engaging Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines- Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) to help small-scale miners, but the process was taking long.
“Government should also immediately set a dedicated department for small-scale mining at the ministry of mines, which will ensure the sector becomes as active as large scale mines,” he said.
Mr Kalesha said the Ministry of Mines’ concentration was on large scale base metal mines thereby neglecting small -scale miners who could equally contribute positively to national development.
He noted that the performance of the emerald industry had been disappointing in contributing to the country’s economy since discovery of first deposits, yet this was an industry that could relieve the nation out of total dependence on copper mining if fully exploited.
Mr Kalesha, however, said that a few companies that were operational have created job opportunities for the Zambians.
He said Grizzly and Kagem mines had so far employed over 600 people between them, but though Kagem could do a little more in Job creation because it was lying on over 42 square kilometres of land endowed with minerals.