adminBusiness Reporter
SMALL-scale chrome miners have said Government has afforded them the opportunity to carry on with their mining activities in claims that they used to exploit under tributary arrangements but have called for the issuance of binding title that brings certainty.
Small-scale chrome miners have over the years been exploiting chrome deposits in tributary arrangements with Zimasco and ZimAlloys but in 2017 Government ordered the two firms to cede at least half of their claims to miners.
Government announced in December 2016 that Zimasco had ceded 22 000 hectares of chrome rich deposits while a further 20 000 hectares came from ZimAlloys.
The move almost threatened the viability of the industry as new players moved in to take control of the mines thus disenfranchising previous miners resulting in operations being stopped in most of the claims as the battle for the chrome rich deposits ensued, especially in the Midlands province.
Government has, however, moved in and ordered previous tributary miners back on the land but the miners are now appealing for documentary backed title that they said will give them certainty and boost production.
According to the Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines, the first five months of 2017 saw chrome production registering over one thousand percent growth from 15 000 tonnes in 2016 to 173 000 in 2017.
Confederation of Chrome Miners Association chairman Isaac Chivendera told this publication that small-scale miners are targeting a whopping 500 000 tonnes per year but for them to achieve the figure they need security of tenure.
“It’s fair that the new administration has afforded us space and order in the claims to go about our business as opposed to the confusion that we witnessed when Zimasco and ZimAlloys were asked to cede the claims to former tributary miners,” said Mr Chivendera.
“But for now I think we would do much better if Government then goes on to issue some form of lease certificates to all the operating miners so that we remove the fear of being kicked out.
“Even in terms of investment, people can invest if we get this security and thus boost production which we want to increase to 500 thousand tonnes from the about 780 miners that are currently operating and this is very much in line with what Government has been calling for.
While small-scale miners are seized with increasing production, Government — at last year’s Mining, Engineering and Transport Expo (Mine Entra) Conference, expressed disappointment over the continued channelling of resources to the extractive sector at the expense of beneficiation.
Online Reporter