Govt in fresh attempt to seize Zimplats' mining land

Zimplats has said that the Zimbabwean Government has made fresh attempts to seize its mining land after receiving a new notice on January 13 giving the company 30 days to lodge an objection.

This is the third time since February 2012 that the government has issued a notice to seize 27 948 ha of mining ground from Zimplats, the country’s biggest platinum producer which owns a total of 48 535 ha in mining claims. In its third-quarter results statement, the company said that it was consulting Government on the issue while Mines Minister Walter Chidhakwa did not answer his mobile phone when contacted for comment by Reuters.

However, Government has previously defended the decision to seize Zimplats land, saying the miner had an excessive amount of land and it wanted to distribute the claims to new companies.