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THE discovery of gold and platinum deposits in the Gache Gache area of Kariba district is a shot in the arm for Zimbabwe and the government should ensure that it ring fences the latest mineral find so that it benefits the nation instead of unscrupulous private companies and foreign investors.

Excavation activities associated with the upgrading of the Kariba South Power station along the shores of Lake Kariba led to the discovery of gold and platinum group of mineral deposits, opening a new avenue for revenue for the cash-strapped government.

The deposits were discovered around the confluence of Gache Gache as it flows into Lake Kariba during sand abstraction. The sand, which has been found to contain gold particles, is being used in construction work at the Kariba South power expansion project site.

We reported yesterday that the government had moved in to conduct large scale mining in Kariba following the recent discovery of gold and platinum group of minerals in the area.

Confirming the latest developments, the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Cde Walter Chidhakwa, said: “Gold deposits have been discovered at Gache Gache and during sampling it was later discovered that there are also platinum group metals.

“While we have done geological work on certain specific areas we have not yet established the size of the deposit. So they are still working on a planned drilling programme which will give us a volumetric understanding of how big the deposit is.”

Cde Chidhakwa said it would solely be the responsibility of the State to conduct mining activities in the area in line with a recent directive that all riverbed mining would be done by the government.

The mines minister revealed that heavy machinery had been ordered from South Africa and is expected in the country in the next few days.

“We have equipment that is likely to arrive next week and other ancillary machinery which will be deployed soon,” said Cde Chidhakwa.

The State has ordered 2×80 tonnes per hour Nelson Concentrators and other equipment. On mechanisms the government had put in place to avoid mistakes made in the Chiadzwa diamond fields, Cde Chidhakwa said the government was not going to engage partners as it has the capacity to conduct mining in the area.

“There will be no special dispensation for private companies in line with government position after realisation that our rivers were being destroyed,” he said.

We hail the discovery of the minerals and support the government stance on excluding private companies from the latest mineral find given their propensity for pilferage and shortchanging the State. Reports that Zimbabwe lost more than $15 billion in diamond revenue in the Marange fields alarmed the nation and a repeat of that calamity would be unacceptable to Zimbabweans.

President Robert Mugabe revealed during his traditional birthday interview with ZBC in March that the country received less than $2 billion out of a possible $15 billion from the Chiadzwa diamonds where more than five companies were licensed to operate. Workers at diamond mining companies that were operating in Chiadzwa told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment last month that proceeds from diamond extraction were not commensurate with money derived from their sale.

They spoke of seeing aeroplanes flying diamonds away everyday right under the noses of the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, Ministry of Mines and State security departments. One of the mining companies in Chiadzwa, Jinan Mining Private Limited, is under investigation amid reports that it could have externalised about $450 million under the pretext that it was investing in equipment. The government is in the process of investigating Chiadzwa diamond mining companies to ascertain how much the country lost through pilferage.

The discovery of gold and platinum deposits in Kariba comes at an opportune time for Zimbabwe as the country is recording a steady rise in gold output with production increasing to around 20 tonnes per annum. Projections show that volumes will increase to around 25 tonnes in 2016.

It is critical that maximum value is derived from the latest mineral deposits and care should be taken to ensure that all loopholes are plugged so that the country does not lose out. With the government in sole charge of mining in the area, locals are bound to benefit from the ancillary developments such as roads and other amenities.

We are confident that the government will successfully carry out mining activities on its own because the alluvial nature of the mineral find does not require a lot of capital.