Legislators seek to press the Executive to bring before Parliament a Minerals Exploration Bill which will promote resource evaluation.
By VENERANDA LANGA
Before Parliament adjourned last month, Chegutu West MP Dextor Nduna (Zanu PF) gave notice to introduce the motion when the House resumes sitting in May.
The motion, to be seconded by Bulawayo South MP Edward Cross (MDC-T) — if passed — will compel government to allocate resources towards mineral exploration, and to establish a database containing up-to-date geological information.
“Zimbabwe is endowed with ubiquitous mineral resources including the world’s largest diamond reserves, second largest platinum reserves and 60 different types of minerals, 40 of which have been exploited to various extents,” the notice of motion reads.
“We are concerned that despite such an abundance of mineral wealth, there is neither geological information nor exploration to date to determine the quantity of mineral resources in Zimbabwe.”
The two MPs will argue that access to information concerning the nation’s mineral wealth that can be obtained by exploration will simultaneously attract foreign investment, increase the country’s net worth as well as strengthen the value of mines and claims already in indigenous hands, setting the necessary preconditions for locally driven growth in the mining industry.
“The Executive should urgently bring before Parliament a Minerals Exploration Bill to promote resource evaluation, reserve definition and ultimately, resource extraction,” the notice of motion reads. Chairman of the Institute of Mining Research at the University of Zimbabwe, Lyman Mlambo recently said Zimbabwe had a record 6 000 deposits of minerals such as gold, chromite, gas and other precious stones discovered a long time ago.
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The expert said it however appeared as if people outside the country knew better about what mineral resources Zimbabwe had, making it difficult for the country to negotiate favourable mining contracts. Mlambo said 65% of the country had been geologically mapped, but the information did not transfer into quantification of the minerals the country had.
According to the expert, it was expensive to do exploration and the country faced problems such as skills shortages in the areas of geology, mineralogy and or mine engineering as many such skills had left the country for greener pastures.
The country is said to have over 4 000 known gold deposits (about 84 million tonnes), while Chiadzwa diamonds are said to have a potential to supply 25% of the world’s diamond market.
