By ROGERS KALEROMORE than 500 emerald mines on the Copperbelt are not fully operational and barely survived the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic, Emerald and Semi Precious Stones Mining Association of Zambia (ESMAZ) has said.ESMAZ president, Victor Kalesha, explained that contrary to speculation the last two years have been torrid for the sector with massive expenses poured in .He said there are 560 mines in Lufwanyama and only three of them were on full time production and opIt was malicious, he said, to claim that mines were hiding production figures. Everything that is produced is evaluated by the Geological Survey Evaluators before it goes on the market.There is nothing like sabotaging the economy everything is evaluated and checked.It is quite expensive in terms of cost to produce even one kilogram. We don’t hide any production, he said.Mr Kalesha was reacting to the Emerald Production Watch of Zambia (EPWZ) President Musa Kafimbwa who said the country was being robbed of millions in […]
500 MINES ON BRINK
