The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has accused miners of hiding mineral discoveries and fleecing the economy of billions of dollars.
The government has now introduced stringent measures and frequent inspections including a ban on the issuance of mining titles until further notice for diamonds, copper, lithium, nickel and rare earth minerals citing an unusual increase in applications for claims.
The ministry had found that some miners have not been declaring the discovery of different minerals at their mines, NewsDay reported citing an internal circular penned by Mines ministry secretary Pfungwa Kunaka and addressed to 10 directors in government departments.
The circular was also copied to Mines minister Winston Chitando. Reads the circular dated December 19, 2022:
This non-declaration has led to prejudice to the growth of the mining sector economy as in some instances high value minerals are involved.
Accordingly, you are hereby directed to ensure that on applications for inspection certificates, the applicants submit a declaration of the amount of work carried out as well as a declaration of minerals contained in the ore body being mined. This should be backed by an assay certificate issued by an approved laboratory.
Further, we have of late seen a flooding of applications for mining titles for minerals which have been deemed strategic in the upcoming Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill. It has thus become necessary that in the national interest, we temporarily stop acceptance and processing of applications for mining titles for the following minerals until further notice: diamonds, copper, lithium, nickel (and) rare earth minerals.
Kunaka said frequent inspections would be done, while officials would be required to submit monthly reports effective from December 19, 2022.
Mines deputy minister Polite Kambura said the decision on diamonds, nickel, copper, lithium and rare earth minerals was in line with the government’s long-term strategy to have State control in the exploitation of the minerals.
On Tuesday, the government announced through Statutory Instrument 213 of 2022, cited as the Base Minerals Export Control (Unbeneficiated Lithium Bearing Ores) Order, 2022, that the export of raw lithium has been banned.
The move is meant to encourage the exportation of beneficiated products.
Zimbabwe is estimated to hold Africa’s largest lithium reserves and is the fifth largest in the world.