MINES and Mining Development minister Walter Chidhakwa has said some board members seconded by the government to represent State interests in joint venture mining firms had not done much to ensure the country got value for its mineral resources.
By Paidamoyo Muzulu Senior Reporter
Chidhakwa made the remarks in Harare yesterday as he announced three new board members for the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC), Mining Promotion Corporation (MPC) and Mining Affairs Board (MAB).
“The people we seconded to these mines have not done us as Zimbabwe any favours,” Chidhakwa said.
“We now want to make sure the new board members play a greater role from exploration to marketing of our minerals.”
Over the years, civic society groups and opposition political parties have been pushing for transparency in the diamond mining sector amid reports that companies were side-marketing the gemstones.
Bindura Nickel Corporation managing director and former Mines secretary David Murangari replaces Godwills Masimirembwa as new ZMDC chairperson. Murangari is deputised by Fidelity board chairman and former RBZ deputy governor Edward Mashiringwani.
The other board members are Patridge Sibanda, D Karonga, L Akino, C Chitambara, former Transport deputy minister Zenzo Nsimbi, a director in the ministry Titus Nyatsanga and E Maravanyika.
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Mines ministry secretary Francis Gudyanga becomes MPC board chairperson and will be deputised by Murangari.
Other MPC board members are Ambrose Made, Amon Murwira, Bertha Muzangaza, Brains Muchemwa, Mabasa Hawadi and Cathrine Machokoto.
MPC is mandated to spearhead comprehensive mineral exploration in the country.
Gudyanga will also chair the MAB board. Other MAB board members are Hawadi, chief mining commissioner Fredson Mabhena, a metallurgy director in the ministry Valentine Vera, mining commissioner S Tahwa, Sydney Simango (Chamber of Mines), Paul Zakaria (Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union), Mecelina Tshabalala (Institute of Accountants Zimbabwe), P Makuni (Chamber of Mines) and B Stone (Small-Scale Miners).
The MAB is responsible for considering applications for mining titles.
Meanwhile, the ministry announced that it had awarded eight special mining grants to companies exploring for coal in Gweru, Masvingo and Bulawayo.
The companies are Fishrake Investments, Rockrabbit Investments, Unified Earth Resources, Waxcrew Investments, Omega Coal Distributors, Stanpro Enterprises, Rateskin Investments and Aldestein Investments.
The four exclusive prospecting orders have been given to Krumlin Mining (Gweru and Kadoma), Bilboes Holdings (Bulawayo) and two licences to H N Gumbo & Associates to prospect in Bulawayo region.
Chidhakwa said: “These are the first licences granted by the government to new companies in the past 12 years. The last licences were granted in 2002.”
