The Mines and Minerals Bill has moved a step closer to becoming law, with the government now required to address six outstanding constitutional issues within two weeks, Mines and Mining Development Minister Dr Polite Kambamura has revealed.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Speaking on the sidelines of oral evidence before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development, Dr Kambamura said the committee had previously issued an adverse report on the bill last year, flagging 21 concerns of a constitutional nature.
“We responded to those issues. We engaged the Attorney General’s Office and came up with responses to the adverse report,” Kambamura said.
Following a meeting with the legal committee, which he described as having gone “very well,” the committee requested that the government revisit six specific items within a 14-day period.
“We started looking at those issues today. Before the two weeks elapse, we will revert to the legal committee on the matters. After they are satisfied with our responses, they will withdraw the adverse report,” he explained.
Once the adverse report is withdrawn, the bill will proceed to Parliament, then to the Senate, before finally going to the President for assent into law.
Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development Chairman Hon Remigius Matangira emphasised the need to expedite the process.
“We concur and say, ‘This is what you have done, you’ve done well, please expedite that bill because we need it’,” Matangira said.
He raised concerns that the existing situation is already affecting miners, noting that the Minister has been operating as if the new bill is already law when it is not.
“They did actually give a time limit and said that in 14 days they would have done it. We look forward to that. We are not doubting Thomases. We have waited long enough, and waiting for 14 days is not a problem,” Matangira added.
The committee was impressed with the progress made so far and stressed that the bill needs to be urgently finalised “for the good of the country”, particularly as new policy measures being developed require legislative support.
