New mining board pushes for mineral value addition

By Staff Reporter | 2h ago

THE newly appointed Mining Affairs Board says its major task is to accelerate mineral exploration, promote value addition and beneficiation.

The 12-member board recently met Mines and Mining Development minister Polite Kambamura to discuss measures aimed at ensuring the country derives greater economic value from its mineral resources.

Prominent miner and women in mining advocate Blessing Hungwe-Nhara, who sits on the new board, said the country needed to intensify mineral exploration to establish the quantity and value of its resources.

Hungwe-Nhara said increased exploration would help Zimbabwe generate more revenue from mineral exports and support sustainable economic growth.

“It is within such a perspective that Zimbabwe should forge ahead with exploration of minerals to determine the quantity and value of resources at a time when the nation needs more funds from mineral exports to sustain growth,” she said.

Kambamura said the board had been tasked with safeguarding national interests while ensuring the mining sector contributes more meaningfully to socio-economic development.

“This will further attest to the fact that, as the government, we also take into consideration the need to preserve the interests of the nation at a time when the mining sector is also expected to unlock more revenues and has the potential to play a vital role in the overall socio-economic development agenda,” he said.

“So I have mandated this board to further look into the needs of the nation, particularly the value addition and beneficiation strategy.”

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The Mining Affairs Board is a statutory institution established under the Mines and Minerals Act and plays a key role in mineral rights administration and consideration of mining-related matters.

The board is chaired by Mines and Mining Development ministry permanent secretary Thomas Utete Wushe.