Chronicle Editor
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
The Government has directed Apple Bridge Investment, a special purpose vehicle it created to buy and export chrome from small scale miners, to declare its business dealings over the past year following allegations of corruption and nepotism raised against it by chrome miners.
Small scale chrome miners claim they are failing to export the commodity alleging Apple Bridge Investment was corruptly facilitating trade for its cronies at the expense of many ordinary miners.
The Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Cde Fred Moyo confirmed the allegations being levelled against the special purpose vehicle.
He said the Government was looking into the matter so that small scale miners also benefit from chrome mining.
“There are allegations that Apple Bridge Investment is putting pseudo people or they are putting people in between them and miners thereby shortchanging small-scale miners.
“I have heard the story and I have instructed Apple Bridge to produce a list of all the buyers and the tonnage they sold,” said Cde Moyo.
Cde Moyo said there has been a general surge in the mining of chrome as evidenced by the increase in miners and buyers.
The Government allocated $100 million to Apple Bridge Investments which it is supposed to use to buy chrome from small scale miners. — @pchitumba1
Online Reporter