MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU–Mining stakeholders in the Midlands Province have poured cold water on the Mines and Mining Bill meant to replace the 1961 law which has become incompatible with current developments in the multibillion sector.
They said if the Bill is passed into law in its current form will discourage the indigenous miners from participating in the mining industry.
Speaking during a public hearing conducted at the weekend by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development in Gweru, Zimbabwe Prospectus Union (ZPU) president, Samson Dzingwe said the proposed bill is draconian, vague and ambiguous, hence the need to overhaul it in order to promote an enabling environment for the mining sector.
“We don’t want legislation that lacks transparency and accountability especially on the appointment of the mining affairs board. The Minister has been given a lot of powers to appoint several people within that board and we feel that the board will be strongly compromised.
“The board will not be in a position to be competent enough to be able to run the affairs of the crucial mining industry. We want legislation that has promotes transparency and accountability in order to remove the issue of abuse of office. The Minister must be guided by the law not by his opinion,” he said.
He said the digital mining system must be in charge of registration, deal with mining disputes and land expropriation whereas the mining board be an advisory committee.
The miners also proposed an independent board with a balanced representation from both the ministry of mines and stakeholders, as well as selecting the chairperson from the panel.
They said tenure of office for all board members should be a maximum of 2 years.
Gweru Miners Association (GMA) chairperson, Collet Ncube said his organization has identified eight contentious areas which need review.
Among them is clause 155 which talks of pre-inspection requirements which demands the miner to undergo processes that need capital injection before payment for inspection is made.
He said there must be a separation of pre-inspection requirements and a provision for suing or suspension of operations.
“The mechanism of collection of revenue must not be connected to inspection at all, hence forfeiting the mine. How would a miner, still on development, be mandated to be certified by the PVO unless if the bill is meant to expose the miner to abuse. This is a clearer way to denounce a miner from owning a mining location,” said Ncube.
Ncube added that if the Bill proceeds with the PVO issue, a review based on output should be made to demarcate operations that are still on development to those that are in full scale production.
The GMA added that the Bill should incorporate that the Minister and the ministry of mines officials should not reserve the right to register mines in their names as this will breed conflicts of interest and open room for manipulation and corruption.
Miners also proposed that the mining disputes be cleared within a period of 21 days and vouched for more powers to the provincial mining director.
Chief Muketi from Mberengwa said the mines and mining act should empower the local community to partner with the investors.
The meeting was chaired by Shurugwi South legislator Edmond Mukaratigwa.
