via Mujuru bemoans low diamond cash – Southern Eye 28 February 2014 by Richard Muponde and Nokuthaba Dlamini
VICE-PRESIDENT Joice Mujuru yesterday bemoaned the little revenues diamond sales contributed to the national fiscus saying they generated less than $200 million per annum.
Officially opening a two-day Chamber of Mines conference in Victoria Falls yesterday under the theme “Beneficiation, maximising value from the mining sector in Zimbabwe”, the VP said there was need to add value to the minerals before exports.
Mujuru’s sentiments fed into repeated allegations that the country is not benefiting much from the sale of the gems due to smuggling.
A report on the global diamond trade by the World Policy Institute last year exposed how illicit and corrupt deals facilitated by international groups resulted in the plunder of Zimbabwe’s diamonds.
The report revealed a complex structure of diamond deals and dealers that span the globe, looting the country’s diamonds for the benefit of a corrupt few officials.
“Mining currently contributes 15 % of GDP (gross domestic product) and contributes 45% of exports at $1,7 billion per annum. Diamond income to the government at the moment does not exceed $200 million. To us this is disappointing for a country that is so rich in minerals,” Mujuru said.
“Our leaders have agreed that beneficiation and value addition should be an indispensible part of Africa’s development agenda and a necessary ingredient for industrialisation.
“The mining sector is critical to our economic recovery as pronounced by President Robert Mugabe in his inauguration speech in 2013. ZimAsset set the agenda for economic development from October 2013 to December 2018. It defines the aspirations of the government and those of their people.”
She added that minerals should not only benefit the elite, but must be enjoyed by all citizens of Zimbabwe.
Mines minister Walter Chidhakwa said mining links to other sectors like agriculture should be developed to improve the economy.
COMMENTS
Check her bank account along with all the other rogues,thieves and pillagers.
She has got the nerve. Her family organised the shipping of truckloads alluvial mix to South Africa to be processed. They were using their Spanish connections to sell diamonds and gold in Europe.[daughter IS married to a Spanish national]
A German national spilled the beans. the loot was being traffic through Kenya.
This is the type of leadership we have.
Joyce you could do just as well if you sat down on your huge fat azz and never uttered a word until the day you die.You will not be missed honestly
When will she also start her trips to Singapore for eye cataract removals?
With today’s information technology, zanoids will not weave wool through our eyes as before. That we are not doing anything about it does not mean we do not know.
Translated – she wants a bigger cut
Putting all of this to one side (anything that fat ass Mujuru says is pure dribble anyway) – WHY does the Chamber of Mines have to go to Victoria Falls for a conference – more proof (if it is needed)that those in “power” spend money like water.
NOT TRUE!
@Tjingababili-What is not true?Do not bombard us with your telegrams.The love for money in a developing country has serious repercussions because those who loot do not know how to use the looted funds but to bank it outside ready to be returned to its lawful owners in the future.
See what has just happened in Ukraine,the new rulers want the Swiss banks who encourage looting to return billions of dollars taken unlawfully by their ex-leader who is on the run now.
so this is the girl who want to succeed the 9 yr old boy? no wonder why we are suffering, clowns are leading the nation
Asi diamond yakupera. Saka kuchema chema. Mototora pakuru shoma yasara.
Joyce shut up. Yu said there is no corruption after the salarygate scandal so why worry about the looting in mines