Clayton Shereni
The Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Winston
Chitando recently came out guns blazing
and gave a 30-day ultimatum to all inactive platinum miners to start working on
their claims or risk losing them to government by the end of this month.
Chitando recently came out guns blazing
and gave a 30-day ultimatum to all inactive platinum miners to start working on
their claims or risk losing them to government by the end of this month.
Speaking at the handover ceremony of the refurbished main
theatre and laundry facility at Masvingo Provincial Hospital, Chitando said his
ministry will not hesitate to take away claims from those who cannot exploit
them.
theatre and laundry facility at Masvingo Provincial Hospital, Chitando said his
ministry will not hesitate to take away claims from those who cannot exploit
them.
“There are some miners who have idle mining
concessions. There are four platinum ore bodies which are not being worked on.
All companies with all those reserves we gave them until April 30 to come
forward with very concrete plans of developing those concessions and if they
fail to do so, we will apply the ‘use it or lose it’ principle as provided for
in the Mining and Minerals Act,” said Chitando.
concessions. There are four platinum ore bodies which are not being worked on.
All companies with all those reserves we gave them until April 30 to come
forward with very concrete plans of developing those concessions and if they
fail to do so, we will apply the ‘use it or lose it’ principle as provided for
in the Mining and Minerals Act,” said Chitando.
He also said the measure will not apply to platinum
miners only but all players in the mining industry, adding that the measures
were meant to help contribute towards the country’s goal for a middle income
economy by year 2030.
miners only but all players in the mining industry, adding that the measures
were meant to help contribute towards the country’s goal for a middle income
economy by year 2030.
“This country needs development and employment. That
will not be achieved when we have people who speculate. The use it or lose it
principle will not only apply just to platinum but will apply to all mining
concessions so my ministry in the next few weeks will be very active in
identifying those concessions which are not being utilised and these will be
forfeited,” said Chitando.
will not be achieved when we have people who speculate. The use it or lose it
principle will not only apply just to platinum but will apply to all mining
concessions so my ministry in the next few weeks will be very active in
identifying those concessions which are not being utilised and these will be
forfeited,” said Chitando.
He further stated that his ministry was just enforcing
that provision of the law which has already been there concerning undeveloped
mining concessions.
that provision of the law which has already been there concerning undeveloped
mining concessions.
“The government has not been enforcing the provision
of the law so we are just enforcing the provisions of the law. Before we accept
your money, we want to be convinced that you are mining or developing the
concession,” said Chitando.
of the law so we are just enforcing the provisions of the law. Before we accept
your money, we want to be convinced that you are mining or developing the
concession,” said Chitando.
Some of the speculative miners in Masvingo have
reportedly held onto mining claims since since as far back as 1970 but have
done nothing to develop them.
reportedly held onto mining claims since since as far back as 1970 but have
done nothing to develop them.
