By 
Zambia is sitting on a treasure trove of world-class emeralds, yet the country has struggled to turn this natural wealth into widespread economic benefits, Jerry Chitube, a member of the Botswana Presidential Projects Advisory Team argues.
Chitube said the sector’s potential remained largely untapped, with much of the value leaving the country before it reached Zambian communities.
He called for the establishment of gemstone parks in Lusaka and the Copperbelt to drive value addition, create jobs, and foster entrepreneurship in the gemstone sector.
Speaking at the Zambia Mining and Investment Insaka (ZAMII 2025), Chitube said the parks would act as industrial hubs for cutting, polishing, and certification, providing local communities with the skills and infrastructure needed to benefit directly from Zambia’s mineral wealth.
“A premium Certified Zambian Emeralds brand would not only elevate value but also restore national pride,” he said, delivering a keynote on Gemstone Value Addition: How Can We Promote and Implement Value Addition in Emeralds and Other Gemstones In-Country?
Chitube stressed the importance of technology and transparency in building trust and efficiency in the sector. He highlighted the Integrated Commodity Traceability and Authentication System (ICTAS) as critical for ensuring every stone is registered, traced, and authenticated from mine to market.
“ICTAS is not just a technological tool but the backbone of trust in regional trade. It eliminates smuggling and underreporting, attracts ethical buyers, and enables Zambia to command premium global pricing,” he said.
Chitube pointed out that more than 400 prospecting licences had been issued, but that only a few mines were operational due to limited financing and lack of equipment.
“Licences that should empower citizens become dead paper, and families investing their savings often stall before production begins. Zambians own the paper, but others reap the rewards,” he said, noting that many licence holders are forced to surrender majority ownership to foreign investors to survive.
Drawing lessons from Botswana’s diamond industry, Chitube emphasised that beneficiation was achievable in Africa if countries collaborated.
He cited the Mineral Development Fund as a model for financial cooperation that could support regional mineral development and young geologists’ training.
“If Zambia participates in a shared framework, the Fund could co-finance exploration projects, beneficiation infrastructure, and training programmes for young geologists across both countries,” he said.
He further proposed that the Mineral Development Fund, Allied Commodities Exchange (ACE), and ICTAS traceability system form a shared regional infrastructure combining finance, transparency, and market access.
“Together, these initiatives can ensure that our minerals move within regulated, value-driven ecosystems before reaching the global market. Zambia and Botswana can integrate skills, capital markets, and trade systems under one framework, building regional value chains that retain wealth within Africa,” he said.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments