Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
THE mining sector has commended President Emmerson Mnangagwa for returning the Mines and Minerals Bill to Parliament for further discussion before it is passed into law.
President Mnangagwa rejected the Mines and Minerals Bill of 2015, which had sailed through Parliament and was awaiting his signature. Stakeholders had noted the Bill had sticking issues that needed to be ironed out before it was signed into law.
Chief among these was the introduction of the cadastre system, which was introduced as a way of solving mining disputes especially between farmers and miners. Some felt the Bill was hurriedly done and no proper consultation was conducted before it sailed through Parliament. Stakeholders felt the Bill did not represent the will of the miners but that of a few individuals.
Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) president Ms Henrietta Rushwaya said a proper mining law was an anchor in the economic turnaround strategies.
“The country needs good laws to govern mining, which is the anchor of the growth of the economy. It is better that it be deferred for a few months and we get it right than expediency of passing such a critical law with gaps,” said Ms Rushwaya.
She said the new Bill will give all stakeholders enough time to thoroughly go through the contents.
“If you recall, the Bill was passed by both Parliament and Senate on the last week of their seating. In case of the Senate, it was their last day so they were under pressure and perhaps with time they would have scrutinised it and made similar amendments,” said Ms Rushwaya.
Young Miners Federation (YMF) founder and trustee, Mr Payne Kupfuwa said proper consultation covering all the stakeholders was needed. “We did not have proper consultation and representation of the youth who are usually on the ground.
The bill did not have our input as youths. We hope this time there will be wide consultation involving everyone in the mining sector,” said Mr Kupfuwa. “As youths, we are usually disregarded and I think the cadastre system, which was recently introduced was even more confusing for most youths. We want the issue of mining disputes clearly addressed in the bill.”
Mr Samson Dzingwe who leads the Zimbabwe Prospectors Association (ZPA) expressed hope that the august House will take time to address the outstanding issues.
“The President was right to return back the bill to Parliament because the Bill was passed in a rush without considering all other stakeholders. They might say that consultation was done but consultation without accommodating other stakeholders is not good enough,” said Mr Dzingwe.
Mining is a key player in the country’s economy as a major foreign currency earner.