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Charity Ruzvidzo Business Reporter
ALL is set for the diamond seminar in Bulawayo tomorrow with more than 50 delegates expected at the event.
The seminar, which is being organised by Afrimond Diamond and Jewellery Institute, will be held under the theme, “Adding Value to our natural resources and creating wealth”.

Business consultant and Afrimond Diamond country representative, Kwanele Hlabangana, said preparations for the seminar were at an advanced stage.

“People are still registering for the diamond seminar on Friday. Twenty people have registered so far but we expect more to register. The seminar is open to all business persons and entrepreneurs interested in mining,” he said.

Hlabangana said the seminar was aimed at introducing Bulawayo people to the diamond industry.

“We urge the community to participate in mining activities. Mining is a foreign currency earner; the community can tap into the industry by establishing jewellery cutting and polishing centres. This will ensure that they also benefit from the minerals the nation has,” he said.

Hlabangana said officials from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development would grace the occasion.

“Officials from the Ministry of Mines and the Zimbabwe School of Mines chief executive officer (Dzingirai Tusai) will attend,” said Hlabangana.

He said in addition the seminar would tackle skills development in the Zimbabwe diamond industry.

“We will also focus on providing the lucrative diamond industry value chain with key technical information on how to set up vibrant diamond industries in the areas of diamond cutting, polishing, jewellery manufacturing, marketing and retail.

“This is after going through the requisite training in keeping with government‘s thrust of empowerment and beneficiation which is enshrined in the national economic blue print,” Hlabangana said.

The government recently promulgated a policy  which stipulates that at least 10 percent of all diamonds produced in Zimbabwe should be cut and polished locally as part of promoting beneficiation and creating employment.