All set for ZMF Base Minerals Workshop
The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) is inviting stakeholders in the base mineral value chain for a workshop aimed at capacitating stakeholders in making use of opportunities presented by the government in the subsector.
Rudairo Mapuranga
The workshop will run from 09:00hrs on the 22nd of February 2023.
The workshop which will run under the theme “Unlocking The Base Mineral Value Chain” will see the Minister of Mines and Mining Development Hon Winston Chitando, the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) General Manager Mr Tongai Muzenda and the ZMF President Ms Henrietta Rushwaya unpacking and presenting stakeholders with the endless opportunities that have been created by the government in the industry.
Through the Base Minerals Export Control (unBeneficiated Base Mineral Ores) Order, 2023, contained in Statutory Instrument 5 of 2023 and signed by the Minister of Mines and Mining Development Hon Winston Chitando, the government of Zimbabwe has unveiled opportunities for investors to venture into value addition and beneficiation of minerals through restricting the export of all ores and under-processed minerals.
The objectives of the bans under all Acts of any ore are designed to encourage the maximum possible processing within Zimbabwe, adding value, with this processing added value in many cases worth a lot more than the ore being processed. This maximises the value of the export, creates processing jobs in Zimbabwe, and builds up the industrial investment and skills base.
President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has on many occasions praised the decision to restrict the export of unprocessed minerals saying that it will encourage the creation of higher-value downstream processing jobs in the domestic market.
Export restrictions of raw materials are also used to meet other objectives for example, to generate revenue for the government, to control the export of illegally mined products, to enhance environmental protection, or to offset exchange rate impacts caused by exports of several commodities.
According to the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) General Manager Mr Tongai Muzenda the government is open for business to companies that want to establish value addition and beneficiation facilities as this will be of great significance towards the achievement of the 2030 vision where the country expects to achieve an upper middle-income economy.
“MMCZ ‘s role in value addition is in encouraging producers to value add their products. The MMCZ is there to maximize value, we are therefore calling for local and foreign companies to consider investing in value addition and beneficiation as it is one of the pillars for the achievement of the President’s 2030 vision.
“It’s a very lucrative opportunity for companies that appreciate minerals coming from Zimbabwe, for example, we have the best chrome ore in the world. This is the time for the companies to come and probably enjoy our high-grade minerals,” Muzenda said.