Mines and Mining Development minister Obert Mpofu’s call on government to release all jailed illegal gold panners and declare them national heroes in honour of their immense contribution to the national economy is reckless populism at its worst.
Besides, it does not pass the sincerity test because Mpofu as Mines minister must ensure that mineral resources countrywide are undertaken in a systematic manner — meaning it must be orderly so as to create employment for the majority of Zimbabweans and not go around digging haphazardly and degrading the environment.
Curiously, Mpofu disclosed Zanu PF had discussed decriminalising illegal gold panning, and would push for a mining law that prohibits the arrest of illegal gold panners. It is common cause that benefits from orderly mining operations must cascade across the Zimbabwean economy. But what boggles the mind is how Mpofu intends to harness gold panners’ resources and channel them into the national economy when they are not organised.
Oddly, it is hardly two months after Mpofu’s ministry hiked mining fees to levels beyond the reach of better-organised small-scale miners. They have protested and asked Mpofu to slash the astronomical fees, but he has turned a deaf ear to them, telling the small-scale miners to establish properly-run mining operations so as to raise cash to pay and protect their gold claims.
According to Mpofu, legally, these firms would be obliged to comply with the law governing mining operations and create employment. What has gone wrong? If large-scale miners can lose their gold claims for failing to pay mining fees, why should the gold panners be allowed to benefit for free? Does Mpofu want to create a free-for-all scenario in the mining sector?
Can he please explain? Who is the beneficiary of these illegal panning activities? Mpofu is calling for anarchy in the mining sector, calling for the destruction of the environment. Who will provide the cash to reclaim the gullies that the panners ripping the earth are leaving open? How will the economy benefit from these chaotic scenes?
Has Mpofu ever thought seriously about the implications of his politicking? His Zanu PF colleague Environment and Natural Resources minister Francis Nhema and the country in general must call Mpofu to order.
Zimbabwe is already struggling to reclaim damaged ground following arbitrary mining activities by illegal gold panners all over the country. Thousands of lives have been lost especially when illegal gold panners choose to enter disused mine shafts at some of the forgotten gold mining sites, without due care. We are aware that Mpofu’s ministry has in the past made sure that mining activities anywhere in the country can only resume once there is an Environmental Impact Assessment. Does this follow that only companies must regularise operations only for illegal gold panners to freely benefit? Is Mpofu benefiting from this chaos? One wonders.
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It is pure mischief for Mpofu to say gold panners are heroes when their activities are illegal, damaging and dangerous. Mpofu beware – Zimbabwe does not need anarchy whether Zanu PF has discussed this issue at the highest level or not. This is just another case of irresponsible vote-buying ahead of an election.
