Communities join mining bandwagon.

Communities join mining bandwagon.

Nevanji Munyaradzi Chiondegwa

The $12 billion dollar industry is set to get new players following the government’s approval of the participation of communities in the sector in line with the “Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo” mantra championed by President ED Mnangagwa.

Following the boom in the mining sector, Government has granted the request by some traditional leaders to acquire mining titles in reserved areas for the benefit of their communities. This was announced by Minister Monica Mutsvangwa of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services during a post-cabinet media briefing in Harare last night.

The approved six requests by chiefs including Tefra Mining Syndicate under Chief Marange, Goromonzi Mining Trust which has three namely Chiefs Rusike, Chinamora, and Chikwaka. Chief has another interest in Chinamhora Mining Syndicate. Chiwara Mining Syndicate is under Chief Chiwara while Bere SP Mining Syndicate is under Chief Bere.  Budiriro Mining Syndicate is under Chief Chiweshe. Also approved is a request by War Veterans for mining titles.

Cabinet also approved the applications to correct technical anomalies in some mining syndicates. The following applications to optimize current operations were also approved: Inglehart Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd Jubilee Mine); Scarfbrook Services (Pvt Ltd); Dorcas Mining Syndicate; Moral Capital Zimbabwe (Pvt Ltd); Exodus and Company; and Premier Portland Cement, Zimbabwe.

Min Mutsvangwa said, “Cabinet approved a proposal through which part of the Mashava Reservations held by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development will be allocated to eleven syndicates. These syndicates will be from each of the eight administrative districts of Masvingo Province with three other syndicates being solely for youth, war veterans, and women to supply chrome ores to Zimbabwe Zhongxin Smelting Company (ZZSC). The company is a new ferrochrome smelting project based in Mashava, Masvingo Province with capacity to generate about US$88 million and create 200 jobs locally.”

Meanwhile Government has granted an exemption on the export of chrome ores. The move is to enable the mining companies to enable them to raise the required capital to construct smelti9ng furnaces for value addition to the chrome.