admin
Midlands Bureau
THE Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has embarked on a restructuring exercise nationwide aimed at enhancing efficiency and accountability.The government is setting up structures at provincial level in each of the country’s eight provinces that will result in officials and other personnel from the ministry reporting to a provincial mining director.
Mines and Mining Development Minister, Cde Walter Chidhakwa, confirmed the development.
He, however, said he could not give further details since the exercise was yet to be completed.
“We still have to finish the exercise. We expect to complete the restructuring exercise next week and we will issue a statement as soon as we finish.”
Under the previous set up, the whole country was divided into four mining administrative districts run by a mining commissioner.
The old system had Gweru district, for example, covering distant areas like Mhondoro-Ngezi, Kadoma, Chegutu and some parts of Norton.
Ministry officials said the exercises will see the existing four mining districts in the country doubling to eight in line with the country’s economic blue- print, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset).
An official from the ministry’s headquarters in Harare who spoke on condition of anonymity said the restructuring exercise would bring the ministry closer to the people once complete.
The official said mining remained a key economic pillar, hence the government through the ministry’s restructuring programme meant to rejuvenate the sector.
Zim-Asset, the official said, could only work if key sectors like mining were made more accountable and efficient.
“Our administrative offices are now closer to the people we serve. Our binocular vision is to set up district offices in all the country’s administrative districts. This is the only way we can rejuvenate the economy by getting closer to the people,” he said.
Online Reporter