Zimbabwe should adopt mineral ‘safeguarding system’
The local government and Mining laws should be amended to create room to safeguard economic development and resuscitation through mining, Zimbabwe Prospectors Association Secretary-General Timothy Chizuzu has said.
By Rudairo Dickson Mapuranga
Speaking to Mining Zimbabwe, the innovative mining professional said some Zimbabwean laws are now archaic and they should be amended to suit our time. He went on to say that Chegutu Council’s decision to cancel all mining claims at Lambourne farm to pave way for residential stands is backward and visionless.
“Some of our laws are archaic and we still have room to amend them. However, councils should also see this and try to be more developmental minded. The decision to forfeit mining claims by the Chegutu Council is un developmental.” Chizuzu said.
Chizuzu went on saying that it was important for the country to adopt some of the measures in the United Kingdom mineral policy which focus on safeguarding the country’s minerals by protecting areas where mineral sterilisation might occur and that the urban councils before turning land into residential stands should engage experts, taking into consideration that residential areas have no meaningful development to the national fiscus.
“Councils should engage all stakeholders and mineral experts to do due diligence and evaluate what will be a most profitable use of land and I would like to encourage all leaders, local councils and national leaders to think beyond themselves when making decisions that promote sustainable development and that bring real value to the economy and the people at large,” Chizuzu said.
He also said that it was high time local governance become innovative to know that most towns in the country were developed due to mining and Agriculture resources.
“Access to mineral resource data and information is necessary. Accompanying mineral safeguarding policies should be formulated to manage planning applications for development before creating residential areas. Taking note that most towns like Kadoma, Kwekwe, Zvishavane came to being because of mining we need to focus much on building our economy, and mining will create more economic linkage if managed well”, he said.
Mining Zimbabwe contacted the Chegutu mayor his worship Henry Muchatibaya who said the council made plans and invited all stakeholders to meetings regarding the allocation of stands for housing and there was no objection.
“We have what we call masterplans. When we made master plans we invited all stakeholders for consultation meetings detailing our plan and no one objected. Our master plans are of 10km radius and there now just awaiting approval from the highest offices since there was no objection”.
When contacted, former Lambourne farm owner, Mr James Lambourne said he spent over $300k for exploration at the farm and it is rich in quality Limestone which is of high economic value.
Article first appeared in the Mining Newsweek (Mining Zimbabwe Weekly) in the 18 May 2020 Edition