Mhembere set to put Chamber of Mines on collision course

Eastern Highlands tomorrow.

Sources say should the CMZ put Mr Mhembere, who is vice-president, at the helm the organisation, will have adopted a belligerent stance towards Government given that Zimplats was resisting the takeover of some of the idle land it held which Government wants to avail to other investors. The platinum giant has since lodged an objection in the courts against the Government’s takeover of 27 948 hectares of unused land which is part of vast swathes of mining claims it has. Last month, the Government repossessed 27 948 hectares of Zimplats ground for allocation to other companies.

According to the way CMZ effected leadership change, Mr Mhembere is assured of emerging the president of the CMZ, drawing potential battlelines between Government and the chamber. Mr Mhembere refused to respond to questions over the phone yesterday, asking us to forward them in writing to his company official.

“Please e-mail your questions on [email protected],” he said.

Corporate affairs director Ms Busi Chindove confirmed receiving the questions on her email yesterday, but did not respond by the time of going to press. Traditionally, the vice-president of CMZ automatically assumes the reins when the incumbent’s term of office expires, but the outgoing president, Mr Winston Chitando, yesterday said to the contrary. He said all the posts would be put to contest during the CMZ council meeting.

“The way things happen is council meeting is held a day before the annual general meeting that will choose the office bearers for the next term. To tell you in advance that Mr Mhembere will be president will be disrespectful of the council. There will be a council meeting today where decision on the next year’s office bearers is going to be made.

“It is not automatic that the vice-president will become president. The practice is the vice-presidents have become presidents, but constitutionally there are mechanisms to be followed for one to be confirmed president . . . but if you are vice-president, you have high chances of winning,” said Mr Chitando.

Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu and his deputy, Mr Gift Chimanikire, could not be reached for a comment yesterday.

Sources say Zimplats has been combative and resisting Government directives and Impala Platinum, the majority shareholder in Zimplats objected to the Government plans to take over the excess land recently, but Mr Chimanikire said the mining firm had no basis for objecting because “what is gazetted effectively becomes law.”