By CHATULA KANGALI –
THE Emerald and Semi Precious Stones Association of Zambia (ESMAZ) has called on Government to consider merging   the more than 400 emerald plots in Lufwanyama District into three or four plots.
Government  is  in the process  of merging  the more than  400  plots in Lufwanyama District  into   10  or  11 to make  the production of emerald in the  country  economical.
ESMAZ  general  secretary Shadreck Mwape said in an interview that Government  should  merge  the plots into three or four  to make production  of  the  minerals  more  viable.
He said the  association was  in support  of the  projects  but there was  need  to  have large mining  areas  for emerald production.
“If  the  plots  are  merged into  10 or 11, they will  still be  very  small, with the  number  of  plots  we  have, merging  them into three  or  four big  plots  will  be  a good idea in enhancing the production of the mineral,” he said.
Mr Mwape said the production of emerald in the country could only be viable if done on large scale.
He  said  more  than  400 small scale  miners  in the  area  had failed to develop  due to  lack of capital and  machinery.
Mr  Mwape  said  if  the  plots  are  merged, the  sector  would attract  foreign  investors who will partner  with  local  in the production of the  precious  stone.
The  merging of the  emerald  plots by  Government  has, however, been  put on   hold  due  to  lack of  funds.
According to the Ministry of Mines, the process will resume next year.