Cartels hit mining sector

LIVINGSTONE MARUFU

Prominent government officials connected to political bigwigs are said to have established a cartel that is grabbing gold mining  claims across the country, Business Times can report.

Several sources in the mining industry told this publication this week that there is a fierce war to control mining claims across the country.

Mines Minister, Winston Chitando, promised to investigate the claims.

“I will do my investigations into these matters but for now you can send your questions in writing so that I can give you a comprehensive answer,” Chitando said before hanging up.

But impeccable sources insist so severe were the grabs and the most affected were widows and orphans.

“It’s really sad that there are so many well-knit corruption syndicates involving high ranking officials in the government, including in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development taking over the claims that are already occupied with some miners.
“What we are now seeing is that some powerful figures are now coming with back dated documentation on the mines which we have mined for close to a decade now.
“Our members haven’t mined properly since January due to this fight and the situation has intensified across the country hence the reduction in gold output despite not having heavy rains,” an official of a mining association, who preferred anonymity told Business Times this week.

The source added: “This could destabilise the mining sector and significantly reduce output given that the heavyweights don’t have the same passion to work for the country like small scale miners whom they have taken the mines from.
“Even when they manage to get the gold in huge quantities they are smuggling it outside the country’s borders due to high demand of gold in the world right now.”

Wellington Takavarasha, CEO of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF), acknowledged that there were several disputes over mining claims.
” There are a number of disputes. The miners can approach our offices and the provincial directors to resolve such disputes to bring sanity  into the sector.
“It has happened and it is happening but not on such a high  magnitude as purported by some people,” Takavarasha said.
He added: “We have seen orphans and widows  encountering such problems but we are helping out to ensure they get back their claims back.
“The Mines and Mineral Act is clear that whoever started pegging will win.”