Govt acts on errant miners
LIVINGSTONE MARUFU
The government has taken action to purge the mining industry of rogue miners who refuse to follow the law, it has been learnt.
Information Minister Jenfan Muswere (pictured) stated during a post-cabinet briefing that the government has seized explosives, revoked operating permits, fined, and issued warnings with orders to regularize within a set period of time.
Between May and June of this year, government carried out a Responsible Mining Audit across the country to determine whether mining companies were adhering to the legal requirements regarding the submission of production returns.
But, some miners—particularly small-scale miners—continued to operate without a license and without compliance.
The Cabinet yesterday implemented strict measures to root out malpractices after the nation lost over US$1.5bn due to leaks.
“The nation is being informed that in all the identified transgressions, corrective action is taken including the following: imposition of fines; confiscation of explosives; suspensions from operating licences; cautions with instructions to regularise within a stipulated time-frame.
“The Responsible Mining Audit came up with a number of useful recommendations which the government is implementing and the Inter-ministerial Committee should continue to develop other solutions,”Muswere said.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched a Responsible Mining Audit on May 11 2023 aimed at ensuring that all mining operations are conducted in compliance with the country’s laws.
The audit was conducted in eight of the country’s provinces namely: Mashonaland Central, Midlands, Masvingo, Manicaland, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Mashonaland West, and Mashonaland East.
The audit managed to cover 422 mining sites or locations in these provinces.
Muswere said it was discovered that large scale mines, with at least 1000 employees, are to a large extent, complying with mining laws, environmental laws, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, Immigration, labour and energy regulations.
“There are however isolated cases where immigration laws are being violated,” he said.
The government identified the mining industry as one of the central sectors needed to achieve the upper middle income economy by 2030 hence the authorities are moving towards removing all hurdles.
