Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika
Senior Reporter
The Government will soon lift the suspension in the issuance of mining licences countrywide, Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Engineer Polite Kambamura has said.
He disclosed this in the National Assembly, while responding to a question by Mashonaland West Youth Quota representative Cde Amos Ziyambi.
“It is true that there are a lot of people who have applied for mining titles, but they have not received their mining rights. It is because we have been having some challenges.
“As a ministry, we sat down and agreed that we set up some teams which are going around the provinces to clear those backlogs.
“We have started with some provinces and we will be coming to Mashonaland West early this coming month so that we clear the backlogs,” Eng Kambamura said.
He said his Ministry had also partnered the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate to raise awareness among artisanal miners so that they register and formalise their operations.
“The first level of formalisation is being registered.
“So, every artisanal miner should be formally registered with the Ministry of Mines.
“We are also conducting awareness campaigns to encourage small-scale miners to register with the Ministry. Our department which deals with inspections is teaming up with the Ministry of Environment so that we build a strong inspectorate team that will be going around to check on compliance.
“We are also issuing out some penalties to those that will be found on the other side of the law and we will be revoking the mining rights till the miner complies with legislation,” he said.
Last week, the ministry launched its first quarter gold mobilisation exercise where teams will go around the country’s eight gold mining provinces to ensure the mining and trade of the yellow metal is done within the confines of the law.
