A Belgian company, Kerogems Investment, is establishing a diamond school in Harare to help Zimbabweans acquire world-class expertise in cutting and polishing gems. The Zimbabwe Diamond Education College — to be affiliated to the Diamond Education Colle-ge of South Africa — will open its doors to the public in Mt Hampden next month, according to Kerogems representative Mr Nabil Khalil.
Briefing delegates at a stakeholders’ meeting at Canadile Holdings’ offices in Mt Hampden yesterday, Mr Khalil said he expected to start with “a small school of 40 students”. “We are establishing a school of rough diamond cutting and polishing and this will be done in co-operation with the South African school (Diamond Education College),” he said.
He said the college would recruit experts from India and other parts of the world. “In one month’s time we will be operating at 100 percent,” Mr Khalil told The Herald in an interview after the briefing. Mr Khalil said diamond cutting and polishing courses ranged from six weeks to six months and students would get internationally recognised certificates.
The school will be moved into the Zimbabwe Diamond Technology Centre at Mt Hampden when it is complete.
Kenmark Investment is building the Diamond Technology Centre that is due to be completed in 12 to 18 months’ time according to the company’s commercial manager, Mr Richard Dodington.
The move is part of efforts by Canadile to add value to diamonds mined in Marange so that the country does not just export rough gems.
Insurance houses, banking firms and courier services are reportedly jockeying for space at the diamond centre.
Kingdom Bank, Zimre and the United Parcel Service of the United States among others were represented at yesterday’s meeting.
Also present were representatives of the Affirmative Action Group and Mr Obey Chimu-ka of the Diamond Association of Zimbabwe.
AAG president Mr Supa Mandiwanzira des-cribed the diamond centre as a milestone.
“It demonstrates the importance of indigenisation. For a long time, diamonds were going out of the country with little benefits accruing.
“Now we can do more by creating factories and other businesses that come out of beneficiation.
“The project is about empowerment and whoever is going to be involved is coming on the card of empowerment.”
Mr Chimuka added: “We want beneficiation here and looking at Zimbabwe’s literacy rate, we are able to learn and do it.”
Mr Claude Maredza of Canadile said the Government backed the idea of establishing a diamond school.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s Minerals and Border Control Unit says it has sealed all airports and borders to stop possible leakages of diamonds.
Addressing delegates at yesterday’s meeting, Superintendent Oscar Mugomeri said all major airports were under 24-hour surveillance.
“We have established 22 minerals and border control stations around the country. We are now stationed at Beitbridge, Kariba, Chirundu and Plumtree and we are monitoring these for 24 hours,” he said. Zimbabwe is likely to hold the first auction of diamonds from Chiadzwa next month.
(herald.co.zw)
