ZMF to meet ministry over new mining fees

The federation represents the interests of small-scale miners in the country.
In terms of Statutory Instrument 11 of 2012, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development a fortnight ago announced hefty registration, rental and licence fees for mining activities.
The move has been criticised by stakeholders in the mining sector with small-scale miners calling for the need to reverse the increases.
“The Zimbabwe Miners’ Federation executive and management board wishes to dialogue with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development on the new mining tariffs.
“The dialogue should facilitate a holistic approach that should envisage a scenario where tariffs are reversed to levels that are accommodative of small- and medium-scale mining input and concerns and economically viable for the mining industry and the economy at large and that are not arbitrary but are a result of wide consultations,” said ZMF in a statement.
In an interview, ZMF national organising secretary Mr Ishmael Kaguru confirmed that the meeting will be convened in Harare on Thursday.
He said the new mining fees were bound to promote illegal mining and smuggling of minerals because the tariffs were unaffordable.
“With these new rates, we foresee a lot of illegal mining activities and smuggling of minerals because people cannot afford paying them.
“Imagine a situation where a permit for emission of carbon which was not in existence before and now it is being introduced at $1 000,” he said.
Government set new fees for the mining sector that range between $3 000 and $5 million.
Although players in the mining sector criticised the tariff increases, Government has however, said the increments that range between 500 percent and 5 000 percent were introduced to curb speculative activity within the industry.