By Zivaishe Dudzo 

Speaking at the 9th Ordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers for the Association of African Diamond producing countries (ADPA) at Elephant Hills Resort in Victoria Falls, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said Africa’s natural resources should be used to build the Continent.

“As the people of Africa, we must move beyond narratives where it is questioned whether our rich natural resources are a blessing or a curse. We must be awake and leverage on our natural resource endowments to build our beloved Continent, brick by brick; stone upon stone and step by step,” said the President.

President Mnangagwa also said diamonds are an infinite resource which should be used to invest in social projects that lead to the improvement of lives and  development in communities.

“Further, given that our diamonds are a finite resource, we must not accept trinkets but corporate social investment projects that have far reaching impacts on the productivity and quality of the lives of benefitting communities. These must dovetail with our broader national and Continental developmental agenda,” he said.

President Mnangagwa said there was need to empower communities to sustain their livelihoods where mining takes place. 

“Communities where mining takes place should be empowered to sustain their livelihoods long after mining activities have ceased operations. After all, it is the host communities, which give the mining companies a social licence to operate. 

“As the Government of Zimbabwe we Take pride in the good relationships that exist between diamond mining companies and communities,” said the President.