Ministry of Mines hailed for change of mine ownership restriction
The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has been applauded for barring Provincial Mining Directors (PMDs) and their staff from transferring registered mining titles without seeking written authorisation from the Ministry of Mines Head Office.
Speaking to this publication Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) President Ms Henrietta Rushwaya commended the government decision saying it will go a long way in curbing corruption in the transfer of mining claims as has been the case where corrupt individuals would change mining ownership without the consent of miners.
“We welcome the move as ZMF as this was now fueling corruption and also some sales were now taking place without the consent of the owner and some were also taking place in reserved areas. How does a foreign company buy an 8-hectare lithium block?” Ms Rushwaya said.
Young Miners Foundation (YMF) CEO Mr Payn Kupfuwa said the decision will allow due diligence to take place before transfers are effected. He also said that the decision will ensure a steady flow of professionalization and formalization initiatives.
“The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has done well by stripping of the right to transfer ownership of Mines as this will reduce disputes as due diligence will be done before transfers are done. Disputes have been hindering progress in terms of production which affects the US$12 billion mining economy target which resonates to the prosperous and empowered Upper Middle Income economy by 2030. As Young Miners, we are ready to participate in the bolstering of efficiency gains in mining enterprise development through increased formalisation and professionalisation of small-scale mining. We are serious in re-writing and re-defining the small-scale mining narrative by working formally. This initiative is a great move towards formalisation and professionalisation of small-scale mining,” Kupfuwa said.