Under the use-it-or-lose-it policy, 213 mining concessions
will be repossessed in the first phase while 21 000 hectares of mining land
have been reclaimed following failure by owners to pay inspection fees.
This is part of efforts by Government to ramp up measures
to achieve a $12 billion mining industry by 2023.
These efforts are to create an investor-friendly
environment, with mining companies prepared to invest in and operate mines
having security, while those who staked claims and obtained concessions but
just held them for speculation would have to give way for those willing to
mine.
The Mines and Minerals Act empowers the Government to
repossess unused mining concessions to prevent speculative holding of valuable
assets and promote investment, job creation and ensure broader access to mining
assets by allowing others ready to mine, to file claims and obtain concessions.
Speaking at a workshop for the Portfolio Committee on Mines
and Mining Development to review legislation and policies governing the mining
industry in Mutare yesterday, Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston
Chitando said the 213 concessions being repossessed included potential medium
to large mines.
“Right now, we do have a total of 213 concessions, which
are being processed for ‘use-it-or-lose-it’. At this stage, 147 are at advanced
stages and they are all essentially medium to large scale mines. These will be
processed by end of September with the remainder being processed by end of
October. That is the first phase of use it or lose it.”
A full statement on the mining concessions and how they
will be distributed would be released in September and October.
The minister said his ministry had taken a deliberate
stance to undertake forfeiture of all mining titles where the holders are
overdue in paying the required annual inspection fees resulting in the
forfeiture of the 21 000ha.
In this repossession exercise, small parcels are being consolidated
to make 49 viable mining concessions that would be allotted to those genuine
investors willing to start mining operations.
He said the 49 consolidated areas together with assets
repossessed under the use it or lose it principle would be fully listed in a
statement in September.
The mining industry, said Minister Chitando was headed for
great heights and indications were that the sector would be able meet the $12
billion target by 2023.
The amendments to the Mines and Minerals Act were on course
and once they were done, amendments to the Gold Trade Act, the Precious Stones
Act and the Mining Development Policy would then be finalised.
Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda said delays in
finalising the Mines and Mineral Amendment Bill had become a stumbling block to
the speedy realisation of Zimbabwe’s full mining potential.
“No serious investor is prepared to venture into a sector
that has a nebulous legal framework, which does not guarantee security of
tenure and assured return on investment backed by the clarity of law,” he said.
Advocate Mudenda said the plan to grow the mining industry
to a US$12 billion economy by 2023 hinged on the Bill, which when enacted into
law, was critical in creating an enabling legislative investment environment.
Herald
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