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Wallace Ruzvidzo-Herald Reporter

ZANU PF has directed Government to amend legislation on exclusive prospecting orders and enforce the existing “use it or lose it” policy to prevent mining companies or individuals from holding mining claims for speculative purposes.

This means the holders of mining claims have to mine them or they can be reassigned if unused.

This follows revelations that the majority of exclusive prospecting orders (EPOs) were not being used, but were being held for speculation.

An exclusive prospecting order is designed to ensure that the mining concern investing substantial resources to hunt down and map mineral bodies, can do so without having anyone else grabbing a discovered mineral claim and that they can then mine those minerals by converting a part of the EPO area into the mining claim and surrendering the rest.

Earlier investigations revealed that some foreign nationals have been holding on to as many as 20 EPOs each, which they have not been using for years now.

The directive was part of resolutions made at the just-ended 21st Zanu PF Annual National People’s Conference in Bulawayo, with President Mnangagwa having set the record straight that party gatherings were not “mere talk shows”, but platforms that champion the country’s development and progress.

He underlined the supremacy of Zanu PF over the Government as a standing principle which compels the party to supervise and oversee functions of central Government.

Policies, directives, programmes and projects enunciated by the conference had to be incorporated into Government plans.

Zanu PF’s secretary for Legal Affairs Cde Patrick Chinamasa announced the resolutions calling Government to action.

“Amend the legislation on exclusive prospecting orders in order to allow other players to prospect in the area covered by the EPO; Ensure the policy of ‘use it or lose it’ in order to inhibit mining entities from holding mining claims for speculative purposes; Expedite the passage in Parliament of the amendment of the Mines and Minerals Bill,” said Cde Chinamasa.

The ruling party urged the Government to revoke non-operational special grants in mining to give other potential investors with the relevant capacity an opportunity to work on the grants.

In an interview yesterday, Zimbabwe Miners Federation chief executive officer Mr Wellington Takavarasha welcomed the ruling party’s directive.

“We, as a federation, have actually been spearheading through the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to remove exclusive prospective orders that have been dormant or were acquired for speculative purposes and nothing has been done.

“Miners have since been tasked to identify such EPOs because they are taking a lot of space yet there is no activity on that particular ground so we have requested that those EPOs be revoked,” he said.

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development, Cde Remigious Matangira, told The Herald that the EPOs issue was something the committee was also looking into.

“No country can do anything without those EPOs. Apparently, we are also seized with the same issue (calling for the amending of the EPOs legislation) so we have asked the Ministry to explain.

“We want to know how many EPOs we have in each province and which ones have something that is being done and which ones do not have any works in progress. Once we have that then we will be able to give further recommendations,” he said.

At an earlier interface with miners, President Mnangagwa expressed the Second Republic’s commitment to addressing miners’ concerns.

Small to medium-scale miners had appealed to the Government to amend the mining law that protects mining entities and individuals in possession of large tracts of land under EPOs, resulting in prospective miners struggling to obtain new claims. 

“We have heard of your concerns and I will ask the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to look into the matter.

“I think they are already aware of what you have just said. You are the ones on the ground so you are the most affected so we take decisions informed by you as miners.

“We have to support you and appreciate the work you are doing as miners in contributing to the growth of our economy. We must mine in peace and harmony”, said the President.

As he delivered his State of the Nation Address and officially opened the Second Session of the 10th Parliament last month, President Mnangagwa called on Parliament to speed up the enactment of various Bills, among them the Mines and Minerals Amendment.

“May I preface the legislative segment of my address by highlighting that Parliament has an obligation to expedite the enactment of all Bills that, for one reason or another, are outstanding from previous sessions of the August House.

“The list includes Bills relating to: Persons with Disabilities; Administration of Estates Amendment; Civil Aviation Amendment; Death Penalty Abolition; Parks and Wildlife Amendment; Private Voluntary Organisations Amendment; and Mines and Minerals Amendment. Others are the Medical Services Amendment; and the Insurance and Pensions Amendment,” he said.

The Zanu PF Conference also resolved to direct Government to put in place incentives that promote indigenous participation in mining as well as measures that give landowners in resettlement areas the right of first refusal in claims.

“Formulate a set of incentives and other support measures to promote indigenous participation in the mining sector; Develop and implement a robust programme to revive all closed down mines through modern technologies, innovation and funding frameworks; Ensure that landowners in resettlement areas are given the right of first refusal in mining claims,” said Cde Chinamasa.