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Conrad Mupesa Mashonaland West Bureau
THE Mines and Minerals Development Ministry’s Mashonaland West office has invited stakeholders to inspect a map it is reproducing to replace the one went missing sometime last year.
The map sheet is for Norton district.
In a communique, provincial mining director, Ms Sibongubuhle Mpindiwa said registered miners were requested to avail copies of their maps that were endorsed by the Mines and Minerals Development Ministry at registration.
Those applying for claims were expected to avail stamped copies of applications.
“The Mashonaland West provincial mining office in the process of reproducing a map sheet number 1803BA1 which was mislaid.
“To ensure that all mining titles are captured before the map is open for new applications, all registered miners and holders of pending applications that fall within this map sheet are invited to inspect the reproduced map at our Chinhoyi office,” said Ms Mpindiwa.
The inspection process runs from 14 to 24 February. The missing map stalled allocation of mining claims in the district with various miners raising concern over bullying and violence emanating from the missing map as people jostled for claims and concessions.
Officials at the Mines Ministry offices blamed miners and prospectors for the loss, with the introduction of the impeding cadastral system expected to address such challenges and mine concession disputes.
Zimbabwe Miners Federation provincial chairman, Mr Timothy Chizuzu lauded the ministry for quickly working to replace the missing map.
Other miners in the province said although a milestone was being reached in the replacement of the mislaid map, there was a general call for the Mines Ministry to secure the maps so that the target to reach US$12 billion mining industry by next year was not hindered.
Online Reporter