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Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko

Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
CORRUPT officials in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development will soon be arrested as the government has launched investigations into looting of minerals in the country, Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko has said.

The VP told small scale miners in Mangwe yesterday that the country could earn $15 trillion from its three main minerals — platinum, gold and diamond which could serve as a solution to economic challenges, but corruption was stifling efficient use of the resources.

“There are corrupt officials in the Ministry of Mines who’ll be arrested soon,” said Mphoko.

“The number one enemy of the President is corruption and the government is prepared to fight it and end it. All corrupt officials will be investigated and arrested and they’ll rot in prison.”

He urged the police to desist from engaging in corruption at the expense of performing their duties.

“Government workers are expected to ensure resources develop communities as opposed to stealing,’’ he said.

The VP warned Ministry of Mines officials against issuing licences fraudulently.

He said the officials were taking advantage of the ignorance of villagers in mining areas to deprive them of prospecting opportunities.

Cde Mphoko said a lot of revenue was lost to smuggling of minerals which was rampant in the country.

He said the government had realised that Mangwe District was one of the areas which were rich in minerals but locals were not benefiting from the resources.

“There is a lot of gold and diamonds in the area of Mangwe but people in the area are living in poverty. This is not acceptable because people should utilise resources in their areas to improve the standard of living.

“We don’t expect people from other communities to benefit from resources from a particular area while locals starve,’’ said Mphoko.

He said after conducting a tour of Matabeleland South, Manicaland, Mashonaland West and Matabeleland North provinces, he had discovered that the areas were rich in natural resources that could help empower communities.

Cde Mphoko said once resources were channelled properly there would be no reason for youths to flee to neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Botswana.

“The country is rich in minerals. Just three minerals platinum, diamond and gold can give the country $15 trillion, not to mention the rest of the minerals that we have.

“This is enough to service the country’s population and address poverty. Diamonds can be found in a number of places but the mineral is not being exploited,’’ he said.

Also speaking at the same event, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Matabeleland South, Abednico Ncube said there were a number of cases within the province where locals had been fraudulently displaced from their mining claims.

“There is a problem of corruption within the Ministry of Mines in Gwanda and Bulawayo. Numerous people have come to my office to report after being displaced from their claims which they would have paid for.”