Mines Ministry determined to deal with hurdles in the Mining sector
The Mines Ministry has promised to deal with all hurdles in the mining sector that limits progress and growth for miners and the country’s economy.
By Shantell Chisango
Speaking at the 2021 pre-budget expectations of the mining sector in Zimbabwe held at Crown Plaza, the Chairman of the Mines Committee Portfolio, Honorable Mkaratigwa said the Mines ministry is determined to remove all backlogs in the mining industry.
“Mines Ministry is committed to clearing all backlogs that deter the industry from soaring as well as the country’s economy from developing.”
He further added that miners are required to get licenses from Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to help curb land degradation.
“EIA is a legal requirement in Zimbabwe in terms of the Environmental Act (EMA Chapter 20:27) as read with Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007 a tool used to define, quantify and evaluate the potential and known impacts of human activities on ecosystems at the earliest stage of project development.
“Miners, therefore, need to cooperate with the legal system so that we avoid arresting illegal miners in the long run.”
Furthermore, during the meeting, a member of the mines portfolio committee asked Mines Portfolio Committee chairperson Hon Mkaratigwa how the ministry is planning to achieve the twelve million budget considering the massive leakage of minerals in the country.
The chairman responded saying there is much being done by the ministry such as arresting miners found on the wrong side of the law as a way to reduce leakages in the country.
In addition, Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) member Mr. Mberikwazvo told the Mines Ministry to present measures to grow mining revenue as well as ask for resources to improve governance capacity.
Zimbabwe is rich in many minerals and there is a need to have a mining-model sector so as to avoid mining minerals which have less value on the market, said Pact Manager, Mr. Motive Mungoni.