A RECENT survey conducted by Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) has disclosed massive gold leakages with about 97% of raw gold reportedly sold illegally.
REPORT BY VENERANDA LANGA SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER
In the survey report, TIZ researcher Farai Mutondoro said: “Zimbabwean artisanal miners (illegal panners) produce two tonnes of raw gold per month and it is anticipated that about 10% to 15% of total gold output is leaked through illegal activities.
“Of the total gold output, licenced dealers buy 3% of the gold, 10% is sold illegally across the borders and 87% is bought by private buyers who can also be illegal buyers,” he said.
While presenting his 2013 National Budget estimates last month, Finance minister Tendai Biti also bemoaned lack of transparency in the mining sector and accused mining companies of making insignificant contributions to the fiscus.
Some of the recommendations proffered in the study were that artisanal miners should be formalised to curb leakages.
“If legalised and formalised, activities of artisanal miners can cause a huge contribution to the economy,” Mutondoro said.
According to another study titled “Artisanal Mining in Zimbabwe: Prospects for Reducing Poverty and Contributing Towards Sustainable Development” by Dennis Shoko, Zimbabwe has approximately 500 000 artisanal small-scale miners who affected the subsistence of over two million Zimbabweans.
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“While Zimbabwe has laws and regulations designed for large-scale mines, there is no recognition of artisanal small-scale miners in legislation and the government institutions are not supportive of them,” said Shoko.
