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Gvt to coup unexploited mining claims

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Gvt to coup unexploited mining claims

GOVERNMENT has indicated plans to reclaim all mining concessions that have been lying idle amid reports that there are four platinum concessions which have not been exploited since 1970s.

Speaking during the handover ceremony of a refurbished theatre and laundry unit by Mimosa Mine at Masvingo General Hospital yesterday, Mines and Mining Development Minister, Winston Chitando, said there were four platinum concessions which were lying idle across the country with some of them found in Masvingo province.

He said the owners of these concessions have up to end of this month to develop them or lose them to Government.

The Minister said the State was empowered to revoke the licences of such concessions at law.

“What Mimosa has done for this hospital is commendable. I challenge its managing director, Mr Fungai Makoni, to consider developing another concession in Masvingo. We have four concessions for platinum lying idle with some undeveloped since 1970,” said Minister Chitando.

However, the former Mimosa Mine managing director was reluctant to name the mining companies with undeveloped concessions. He said the Mines and Minerals Act demands that all concessions be paid for every year and that operations were expected to commence within a stipulated period after licensing.

“Mimosa Mine holds six percent of platinum reserves only but is doing a great job. Other mines have reserves lying idle but they are not operational. We have given these companies up to 30 April to bring comprehensive plans over these concessions.

“We use the ‘use it or lose it’ concept and we are going to revoke their licences through making use of the Mines and Mining Minerals Act,” he said.

Minister Chitando said by 2023 all the four unused mining concessions should be operational as the Government needs employment and economic development.

He said his ministry will be busy working on the matter for economic benefit in line with President Mnangagwa’s drive towards a vision of attaining middle income status by 2030.

Government has said the mining industry should be able to contribute up to US$12 billion by 2030.

Meanwhile, Minister Chitando presided over the handover of food stuffs and blankets towards Cyclone Idai victims in Bikita, Zaka, Gutu, Chiredzi and Masvingo where five people have died and more than 6 000 had their homes damaged.

Speaking at the same occasion, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Ezra Chadzamira, hailed Mimosa Mine for the gesture. 

“We want to thank Mimosa Mine for adding value to our vision to have corporates supporting Government entities. I, therefore, challenge other companies in Masvingo to emulate Mimosa who despite being in Zvishavane, have refurbished a laundry unit and theatre,” he said._The Chronicle

Courts declares the elections which brought Rushwaya to helm invalid

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Courts declares the elections which brought Rushwaya to helm invalid

Zimbabwe Miners’ Federation (ZMF) president Ms Henrietta Rushwaya has lost the presidency of the association after the High Court declared the results and proceedings of the elections which brought her to the helm of the small-scale miners’ body invalid.

The court ruling handed down on March 26, 2019 came just as the ZMF announced a decision to change its name to the Zimbabwe Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners’ Federation (ZASMF).

Ms Rushwaya was elected ZMF president in June last year but a group of small-scale miners under the Zvishavane-Mberengwa Miners’ Association (ZMMA) challenged her election at the High Court.

The miners accused Ms Rushwaya of using unorthodox means to takeover the leadership of ZMF.

They filed an application at the High Court seeking an order to block the holding of the elections and to have them indefinitely rescheduled arguing that Ms Rushwaya wanted to usurp ZMF leadership through unconstitutional means.

High Court judge Justice Nicholas Mathonsi granted a provisional order suspending the holding of elections on June 14, 2018 but the federation went ahead with the elections which were won by Ms Rushwaya.

 The old ZMF executive led by Mr Ishmael Kaguru boycotted the elections.

In her ruling last week, Bulawayo High Court judge Justice  Nokuthula Moyo said:“The court, being a court of law, cannot embrace a willy-nilly departure from one’s constitutional dictates. Not only is adherence to one’s constitution good for law and order, but it is also a good corporate governance principle. The reason why there is a constitution in the first place is so that the association or organisation operates within the confines of good order to avoid chaos.”

She said the court could not encourage organisations to breach their own constitutions and do as they please.

“That is unlawful and this court cannot lend a hand to allow an unlawfulness to prevail. Respondent is bound by the provisions of the constitution and if intended to defend this application, it should have done so within the confines of its own constitution.It is for these reasons that I hold that the notice of opposition and the opposing affidavit are not properly before the court, as they have been brought through the back door and not in accordance with respondent’s own constitutional provisions. As a result, I will proceed to confirm the provisional order, which in my view stands unopposed . . . The provisional order granted by this court on June 14 2018, be and is hereby confirmed,” said Justice Moyo.

In an interview, ZMF general council member Mr Helem Mhlanga said following the final court order, they held their general council meeting in Gweru last Thursday .

 “The High Court has directed that the old executive led by Mr Kaguru should take over the leadership of ZMF and lead the organisation to election. 

“The second recommendation was to constitute a board as directed by the court, the board that would investigate the allegations levelled against (Ms) Rushwaya, the board will also assist vetting of candidates to participate in the ZMF next election,” he said._The Chronicle

Licences for 12 independent power producers

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Licences for 12 independent power producers

THE Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) expects to licence about 12 more independent power producers (IPPs) this year, a development which, if implemented, could see the country’s power deficit gap slashed significantly.

Zera acting chief executive officer Eddington Mazambani told NewsDay that the authority was working on reducing the country’s power deficit.

“Eleven independent power producers were licensed in 2018 and about 12 IPPs are expected to be licenced in 2019,” he said.

Over the last five years, Zimbabwe’s energy regulator has licensed more than 30 IPPs, but only eight of those have taken off and were currently operational.

Authorities in the southern African nation liberalised the country’s energy sector in a bid to promote participation of private capital, but with little foreign capital flowing into Harare because of its status as a high-risk investment destination, most of the projects have suffered a stillbirth.

Some of the IPPs which have managed to take off include Duru mini hydro (2,20MW), Green Fuel (18,30MW), Nyamhingura Mini Hydro (1,10MW), Hippo Valley Estates (33MW), Triangle Estates (45MW), Pungwe Power Station (19MW).

Most of the IPPs are situated in the eastern border province whose mountainous terrain has proved to be conducive for mini-hydro power plants.

According to Zera, IPPs contribute 137,08 gigawatt hours to the national grid.

Mazambani said the country’s generation capacity was constrained due to low water levels at Kariba Dam, but it is hoped the levels would rise by June and July.

“Improved generation capacity is expected at Hwange Power Station as on-going maintenance works will be completed,” he said.

As of yesterday, Zimbabwe was producing an average of 1 120 megawatts (MW) of electricity against the national demand of 2 400MW.

Kariba was producing 711MW, Hwange (375MW), Harare (15MW), Munyati (10MW) and Bulawayo 9MW.

In a bid to reduce the country’s power import bill, government has been working on new power generation projects that ultimately intend to make the country a net power exporter.

In a statement recently, the Zimbabwe Power Company indicated it had been issued a generation license for Munyati Solar Power plant by Zera.

“While we concentrate on new projects, we also look for innovative avenues to continuously improve and prolong the life (span) of our existing plants,” the company said._NewsDay

Measures to prevent predatory chrome pricing

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Measures to prevent predatory chrome pricing

Local chrome miners have castigated the dominance by predatory buyers who have formed domestic cartels which purchase chrome at an average price valued at 15% of export sales prices, thus they proposed measures necessary to prevent predatory buying of chrome by these unscrupulous individuals and organizations.

Rudairo Dickson Mapuranga

According to chrome producers draft policy, the government need to enforce world market trading based pricing both for export and domestic pricing and publish the prices daily as this will disrupt the predatory buying which is taking place inhibited on the domestic market.

Chrome miners believe that, monitoring prices, if established will counter predatory pricing for exports and a basing calculation if it’s created will prevent contracts with pricing being below market trading rates, thus the lowest acceptable contract export price would be viable for the miner.

The chrome producers draft policy also pointed out that, in order to promote both chrome mining production as well as beneficiation via smelters, the Domestic base price should be calculated also as per international standards as follows:

(CIF China – Discounted 25%) subtract (Cost per Km per tonne @ 0.25) subtract (Logistic & Loading $6)

For example CIF China $220; distance 100km to smelter: ($220 * 0.75) = $165; $165 – (0.25 * 100) – ($6) = $134 ,USD price paid to chrome producers domestically. This will enable chrome producers to become fully mechanized and boost production. This will become imperative in the next three years as surface chrome will be depleted and operations will require underground exploitation below 20 meters in depth.

According to the draft, the current low predatory domestic market prices offered, leaves Zimbabwean chrome producer’s growth vulnerable with the limited opportunity to grow primarily dependent on foreign direct investment at the expense of the indigenous investor/producer.

The newly revised pricing model when implemented will further increase employment via associated chrome services in transportation, weighbridge management and charges, services, parts among others.

In order to increase export and domestic transaction efficiency, the graft sets that, allowing banks to process export and transaction sales documents on behalf of the chrome miners, will allow for sales contract based financing driven by off take agreements.

Banks will then be able to finance mineral resource studies which will enable life of mine valuations, further empowering miners to reinvest and vastly grow production output while maintaining their operational ownership and control.

This will enable the Regulatory Authority MMCZ to follow up on transactions processed. Environmental, Safety, Research and Technical Support: There is need for programs specifically designed to support chrome miners as they prepare to mine below 20 meters in depth.

This will ensure greater efficiencies are realized, sustainable mining, and high production volumes. Majority of mines have significant chrome resource within the mines which due to high expenses and limited technical expertise are not being fully accessed. A strong government led initiative will ensure these experts are available to miners at a reasonable cost.

ZASMF official launch  rescheduled to Thursday

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ZASMF official launch  rescheduled to Thursday

Zimbabwe Artisanal and Small Scale Miners Federation (ZASMF) wishes to inform all invited members that the official launch of the organization is rescheduled to Thursday the 4th of April 2019.

The event which was supposed to take place on Wednesday the 3rd of April will be held at King Solomon’s Mines Hotel in Kwekwe the day after on 1000hrs.

The Zimbabwe Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners’ Federation is a body that was formed after the disbandment of Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) which represented small scale miners that where registered and reconciled by the ministry of mines.

This new body however will represent both registered and unregistered miners after they discover that both were significant in the high delivery of gold to Fidelity Printers and Refiners.

The official launch is therefore held in order to create a road map on how small scale and artisanal miners will be accommodated by the new body.

 

For information contact 0778 992 384,  0772 722 031,  0772 986 436

 

Predatory buyers dominate chrome market

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Predatory buyers dominate chrome market

ZIMBABWE’S chrome market is dominated by predatory buyers who have formed domestic cartels which purchase chrome at an average price valued at 15% of export sales prices.

According to a chrome producers draft policy, there are great inefficiencies within both the export and domestic chrome ore supply processes.

“Chrome ore producers face major growth challenges became there is a limited access to international export market which reduces the opportunities for chrome producers to earn much-needed foreign currency to help resuscitate operations,” reads the draft policy in part.

“In addition, the domestic chrome market is dominated by predatory buyers who have formed domestic cartels which purchase chrome at an average price which is valued at 15% of export sales prices.”

The document notes that the cartels supply both the domestic smelters as well as the export communities, thereby reducing the incentive for international buyers to purchase chrome at the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ)’s market-based prices since they use their local operations which remain largely unregulated to buy at heavily discounted prices, consolidate the material and then export via MMCZ or export licenses.

The draft policy also notes that the domestic chrome market was still unregulated, a situation which prevents a large number of local chrome ore producers from sustainable growth.

“In fact, chrome ore production is now declining due to the low prices being paid by our local smelters and local internationally-based buyers to chrome producers,” it reads.

“As a result, Zimbabwe, as a nation, is losing significant foreign currency and tax revenues while at the same time opportunities to re-invest into production growth and efficiencies are being lost,” reads the policy.

In regards to logistics, the draft policy notes that there was need for mobile weighbridges as well as further road and bridge development within the key chrome-mining areas.

“This will help to reduce transport costs as well as ensure the correct tonnages are being transported, which in turn will prevent chrome producers from being underpaid.”

Currently, there is no chrome policy in Zimbabwe which targets both the growth of chrome producers as well as chrome processors who beneficiate chrome ore into concentrates or ferrochrome.

The policy, currently under draft, is being designed to facilitate growth while ensuring the nation benefits from the revenue generated during the production and beneficiation processes._NewsDay

Gold inches up as dollar eases; surge in equities caps gains

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Gold inches up as dollar eases; surge in equities caps gains

Gold prices inched up on Monday as the dollar backed off three-week highs, but gains in the metal were limited as equities rose on signs of progress in the Sino-U.S. trade talks and upbeat Chinese economic data.

Spot gold was up 0.1 percent at $1,293.15 per ounce by 0337 GMT, after touching its lowest since March 8 at $1,286.35 in the previous session.

U.S. gold futures were down about 0.1 percent at $1,297.90 an ounce.

The U.S. dollar slipped 0.1 percent against key rivals, after hitting its highest since March 11 on Friday, while Asian stocks rallied as positive Chinese factory data and signs of progress in Sino-U.S. trade talks supported sentiment.

“The most extreme part of the global growth slowdown panic has subsided a little bit and the Chinese data is responsible for that, but it is a single data point which should be backed by more data,” said Kyle Rodda, a market analyst with IG Markets in Melbourne.

“We are getting a lot of data from across the globe (this week) so the global growth story and the fears related to that will be tested in the very short term.”

Factory activity in China unexpectedly grew for the first time in four months in March, an official survey showed on Sunday, suggesting government stimulus measures may be starting to take hold in the world’s second-largest economy.

Market participants are now awaiting manufacturing PMI data from the United States and Europe and U.S. retail sales data later in the day.

“Though Asian PMIs have demonstrated for respite in the current term, we opine that a synchronized economic slowdown remains in place in lieu of weakness in both domestic and foreign demand,” Phillip Futures wrote in a note.

Investors are also keeping a close watch on the trade talks between the United States and China.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that trade talks with China were going very well, but cautioned that he would not accept anything less than a “great deal” after top trade officials from both the countries wrapped up two days of negotiations in Beijing.

The talks are set to resume later this week in Washington with a Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier Liu He.

Among other precious metals, spot palladium was up 0.1 percent at $1,384.70 an ounce, having declined more than 11 percent last week.

The auto-catalyst metal also posted its biggest monthly decline in March since December 2016.

Silver was up 0.2 percent at $15.16 an ounce, while platinum rose about 1 percent to $853.38 an ounce._Reuters

Gold panner on the run after workmate ‘stabbing’

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Gold panner on the run after workmate ‘stabbing’

A GOLD panner from Gwanda is on the run after he allegedly fatally stabbed his workmate with an Okapi knife in a dispute over the sharing of money realised from a gold deal.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred on Monday at around 10PM at Majoda Farm panning site in West Nicholson.

He said Thandolwenkosi Moyo (29) of Matshesheni stabbed Nkululeko Moyo (30) also from the same area and fled from the scene.

“I can confirm that we recorded a murder case which occurred in West Nicholson where a man was stabbed to death. Thandolwenkosi Moyo and Nkululeko Moyo were at Majoda Farm panning site when they had a misunderstanding over an undisclosed issue.

“The misunderstanding turned into a fight and they exchanged blows. Thandolwenkosi retrieved an Okapi knife and stabbed Nkululeko below his left breast before fleeing. Nkululeko bled profusely as a result of the attack and died on the spot,” he said.

Chief Insp Ndebele appealed to members of the public with information on Thandolwenkosi’s whereabouts to report at any police station near them.

He said the incident comes at a time when police had issued a three month ban against the carrying of dangerous weapons.

“As police we continue to urge people to desist from resorting to violence in order to resolve disputes. 

“This incident comes at a time when we have issued a three month ban against the carrying of dangerous weapons. We will continue with this campaign as this case is a clear indication that there is a cause for concern as people continue to use dangerous weapons to commit offences,” Chief Insp Ndebele said.

A source who preferred anonymity said Nkululeko confronted Thandolwenkosi and accused him of giving him a smaller share of money they had realised after selling gold resulting in the fight. _The Chronicle

Cement manufacturers appeals for import control

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Cement manufacturers appeals for import control

CEMENT manufacturers are appealing to the Government to expedite putting in place import controls so as to protect local companies.

In an interview with Sunday News Business last Thursday, Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) managing director Mr Kelibone Masiyane said last year there was a huge demand of cement leading to artificial shortages on the market as a number of businesses and individuals were hoarding the commodity for speculative purposes aimed at profiteering.

“It was initially an issue of volumes last year where there was a huge demand, but we saw that part of the demand was not really people that were building but just wanting to put money into cement and ‘clean up the money’ and obvious we had some plant shut downs that obviously ended up bringing up this sort of shortage,” he said.

Mr Masiyane said the company recently took the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu, on a tour of its factory as part of efforts to show that it had the capacity to fulfil the demand of the local market.

“We just had a factory tour with the Minister of Industry and essentially we were showing him that we were up and running, we’ve got the capability to supply the entire country. So when we did the factory tour we just wanted to demonstrate that we have the capability in terms of installed capacity vis-à-vis the demand,” he said.

Mr Masiyane said PPC has an installed capacity to produce 1,4 million tonnes of cement a year of which the country’s demand is estimated to be around that figure.

“If you take into account our two plants — Bulawayo and Harare, each one of it has installed capacity of 700 000 tonnes per annum so which gives us 1,4 million tonnes of cement per year and at the moment the demand is sitting at 1,4 million. So PPC on its own is able to satisfy the demand but now if you bring in other players we have installed capacity of about 2,6 million tonnes versus a demand of 1,4 million, so there is over capacity,” he said.

Mr Masiyane said considering the improved capacity utilisation of local cement manufacturers it was unnecessary to allow the commodity to be imported into the country duty free.

“We are saying it doesn’t make sense to be using forex to allow people to bring in cement from outside. We’ve got critical things like in pharmaceuticals and other essentials that can be brought in duty free, especially those which we don’t produce but as for cement we produce the best quality. That’s why when Government put duty within Sadc (Southern African Development Community) of a US$100 per tonne, the idea was to level the playing field. So we didn’t advocate for a total ban, we are saying there should be duty,” he said.

Last year, the Government suspended sections of SI 122 of 2017 to increase the flow of basic goods into the market ahead of the festive season and ease pressure on foreign currency demand on the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. The repealing of SI 122 was also meant to allow retailers to restock after panic and speculative buying had left some shelves empty, triggering shortages of some commodities. Most of the cement coming into the country is imported from Zambia with part of it coming from Asia through Mozambique.

Mr Masiyane said the high cost of production in the country was one of the major factors that hamper local companies’ lack of competitiveness against other players in the region.

“The problem with Zimbabwe is the cost of manufacturing — it is quite high, it’s the highest in the region which makes the country uncompetitive . . . it’s difficult to penetrate regional markets because of the high costs of production right here in Zimbabwe, so we struggle with that but all the same we are saying we are here, the product is available in Zimbabwe,” he said.

Mr Masiyane said it was of paramount importance for the Government to address the issue of high cost of production as it has a negative impact towards efforts to turnaround the country’s economy. _The Sunday News

 

Flexible package for women in mining

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Flexible package for women in mining

FIDELITY Printers and Refiners (FPR) will soon introduce a flexible package for women in mining to access funding under its Gold Development Initiative Fund (GDIF) as part of its effort to ensure improved contribution in the production of the yellow metal.

In his presentation at a small-scale miners’ conference in Bulawayo recently, FPR head of GDIF Mr Matthew Chidavaenzi said the country’s sole gold buyer had noted with concern the failure by most women in mining to access funding under its mechanisation financing facility.

“We identified that women miners were failing to access the Gold Development Initiative Fund and we did some investigations to ascertain the reason which caused such difficulties. One of the problems we identified is to do with collateral. Most women don’t have collateral in their names and then the second problem was skills, women lacked the requisite skills to do mining as a business,” he said.

Mr Chidavaenzi said the organisation was in the process of seeking an insurer to underwrite the risk in the event the women that would have accessed the loan facility failed to repay.

“Women will never access money, the moment you speak about collateral. So it’s one of the reasons we are trying to address by getting an insurer who will insure the loan and we give you with minimum collateral, it may be the plant or equipment that we buy for you,” he said.

Mr Chidavaenzi said in an effort to impart and capacitate women in mining with the requisite skills in the trade, FPR facilitated a mining course for some of them at the Zimbabwe School of Mines further stating that the participants of the training programme would be given preference to access the fund.

“The third challenge, which we think is a huge challenge in mining is the issue of claims. Women miners don’t have claims. If they don’t have claims then it is very difficult for them to get finance because they do not have anywhere where they will be able to mine. So part of the discussion, which we are having with the Ministry of Mines (and Mining Development) and large-scale producers is to say, can we get tributes, which will be given to women so that women can be able to be supported through being given all the requisite capital to start viable mining projects on good claims where they are not harassed or forced out of their places,” he said.

About $18 million has been disbursed to women in mining through the GDIF accounting for about 15 percent of the facility while their male counterparts have accessed $52 million making up about 43 percent of the fund while syndicates, co-operatives and companies have received $50 million, totalling to a disbursement of $120 million out of the allotted $150 million facility. 

“We had set aside about $20 million but women could not access it . . . I think we managed to do less than 60 percent of that account. This year what we have done is that we have increased it and also refined the model itself to say what the impediments for women to access that fund were,” said Mr Chidavaenzi._The Sunday News

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