PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has reserved for war veterans
20% of mining claims in the chrome, nickel and steel sectors in what is seen as
an act of appeasement.
Addressing a post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, Information
minister Monica Mutsvagwa said the decision to give mining claims to the
veterans of the 1970s liberation war was reached after Mines minister Winston
Chitando had proposed that claims ceded by ZimAlloys be re-allocated.
“These claims will be re-allocated to other companies which
will receive mining claims to sustain and expand ferrochrome production,”
Mutsvangwa said.
“As per government policy, 20% of the ceded claims, being 2
348 hectares of the total ceded claims, which are a total of 11 747 hectares,
will be allocated to war veterans. The modus operandi of the distribution of
claims to war veterans will be announced in due course.”
Speaking at the same briefing, Chitando confirmed the
development, adding that government was working on the modalities and also
working on a chrome development policy.
“In line with the US$12 billion milestone by 2023 in the
mining sector, the steel and chrome sector is targeting to achieve one million
tonnes of ore from the 360 000 tonnes we had in 2018.
“In the roll out of the programme, we are looking at
synergies between ferrochrome producers and individuals. Government is also
working on a chrome development policy that will outline the modalities,”
Chitando said.
War veterans have been Zanu PF’s main campaign cogs during
elections, propping up the ruling party during the reign of the late former
President Robert Mugabe.
Since Mnangagwa came to power on the back of a November
2017 coup, the war veterans have made several demands, claiming their welfare
has been neglected.
Zanu PF is also amending its constitution to incorporate
war veterans, war collaborators and detainees as a wing of the party. Newsday
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