Zambian Company Invests $3.2 Million In Diamond Processing Plant

Zambian company Mutina Jewellery has invested US$3.2 million into a local diamond and gemstone processing plant, which is set to be fully operational before the end of August.

The Lusaka plant is projected to produce up to 25,000 carats per year, employing some 200 Zambians and indirectly creating jobs for a further 100. 

Speaking during a tour of the plant last week, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Mines Barnaby Mulenga pledged his ministry’s full support for the company in line with the government’s policy of value additional and empowering local businesses. 

The new processing plant will enable small scale miners to sell their gemstone in raw form  to be polished locally before being exported. 

“We want to pledge our commitment in supporting this company as this is a very good investment and will definitely bring in value addition, so we will help you with trade facilitation so that you have a market and its good you will be polishing already existing stones,” Mr Mulenga said. 

Mutina Jewellery’s chairman Msafiri Sinkala has said the processing plant will make Zambia a global marketplace for diamonds and other precious stones, empowering local miners and earning them better returns. 

“We have also engaged experts from China who are transferring skills to Zambians and we have already started doing a test run for most of the machines and will want to make sure that everything is up and running without any problem before full operations begin in August,” he added.