Zimbabwe miners are over the moon after the government approved and granted 25 EPOs.
The announcement through the government gazette general notice read, “It is hereby notified that the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, with authorization from the President, has in terms of section 90(2) of Mines and Minerals Act [Chapter 21:05] issued Exclusive Prospecting Orders.”
The approved EPOs are as follows:-
- EPO number 1760
- EPO number 1761
- EPO number 1762
- EPO number 1763
- EPO number 1764
- EPO number 1765
- EPO number 1767
- EPO number 1768
- EPO number 1769
- EPO number 1770
- EPO number 1771
- EPO number 1779
- EPO number 1780
- EPO number 1782
- EPO number 1783
- EPO number 1784
- EPO number 1785
- EPO number 1786
- EPO number 1787
- EPO number 1790
- EPO number 1806
- EPO number 1807
- EPO number 1808
- EPO number 1809
- EPO number 1810
All EPOs will be valid until 11th March 2024.
Speaking on the development Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) President Ms Henrietta Rushwaya expressed gratitude to the government for finally heeding miners’ call.
“We would like to extend our gratitude to the government of Zimbabwe for finally listening to our pleas on EPO’s that had span into decades.
Since 1994, no EPO had been granted. The Minister of Mines and Mining Development, through the Mining Affairs board, has finally heard our pleas and issued a Government Gazette General notice of 328 of 2021 where 25EPO’s have been granted.
We wish to extend our gratitude to the Head of State for doing the needful. This clearly demonstrates that he is indeed a listening President.
On behalf of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation we would like to say, Thank You and we await the release of the rejected ones so that our Small-scale Miners can benefit and contribute towards the 12 Billion industry by 2023 Mining target” said Rushwaya in a statement.
The granting of EPOs will give small-scale miners the opportunity to apply for land that is not being used by the EPO holder.
More to follow…