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Blessings Chidakwa in Kadoma
Government plans to scrap environmental consultation fees being paid by small-scale miners to the Environmental Management Agency in a bid to empower and help them formalise their operations.
The move comes as Government has also reduced other fees and shortened the Environmental Impact Assessment process.
Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira, who oversees EMA, said scrapping of the fees had been discussed extensively with Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando.
“We don’t want anything to do with mining consultancy fees and it should be scrapped to allow small-scale miners to conduct their business,” she said.
“I liaised with Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando on the issue of the fees and he agreed.
“It is an issue that is managed by EMA and I want people from this province to start benefiting from the initiative so that they start engaging in formal mining activities.”
Minister Mupfumira was speaking at victory celebrations for Zanu-PF’s Zvimba West constituency House of Assembly member Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi in Zowa at the weekend.
Online Reporter