Government developing mineral-based policies
As the country envisions the mining industry to fetch an annual revenue of US$12 billion by 2023, the government has begun the process of developing mineral-based policies to reduce hurdles associated with bundling a number of minerals under one policy.
Rudairo Mapuranga
Speaking to Mining Zimbabwe, the Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development Eng Polite Kambamura confirmed that a process to develop mineral-based policies for all minerals found in Zimbabwe has begun with a lithium policy considered among the minerals to be first prioritized.
“The government has started developing mineral-based policies, each mineral is going to have a development-based policy with lithium, not an exception. It’s a work in progress to have mineral development policies,” Kambamura said.
Last year, Gemstone Miners Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) an affiliate of Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) chairperson Mr Walter Kawara said mining policies are necessitating increased corruption in the mining, trading and export of coloured gemstones prompting experts to conclude that the lack of a policy specifically for the coloured gem industry was a cause for concern.
Kawara said the government was only paying attention to gold issues at a time when a lot of precious stones were being spirited away under its nose.
“There should be a specific policy which deals with gemstones, the precious minerals act does not deal with semi-precious stones,” Kawara said.
Zimbabwe is currently in the process of amending the Mines and Minerals Act, a process which will see small-scale and artisanal miners beginning to be considered miners different from large-scale producers who are often well-capitalized and heavily mechanized than small scale who use light equipment and lack significant capital and mining expertise.
The government is also currently amending the precious stone trade act, and the gold trade act, among other minerals-related acts for the growth, development and sustainability of the mining industry in Zimbabwe.