RBZ bars journalists from illegal mining hearing

RBZ bars journalists from illegal mining hearing

• Top official outed as illegal gold dealer

• 25 000 small scale miners lose claims since November

• Zim government firm takes over diamond claim

• Miners cry foul over gold seizures by RBZ

• Concerns over Zimbabwe diamonds

• 16 000 arrested in Zimbabwe diamonds rush

• Zimbabwe mines take-over at advanced stage

• Zimbabwe eases foreign mining law

• Zim, UK firm locked in diamonds war

• Falcon Gold threatens closure

• Mugabe says locals must have half of mines

• Mugabe gives nod to mine grab proposal

By Staff Reporter

THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Thursday sought and was granted permission for a parliamentary enquiry on alleged illegal mining dealings by its
subsiadiary company to be held in camera.

The central bank's Finance, Intelligence, Inspectrorate, evaluation and security chief Mirirai Chiremba told MPs: " I do not want to say anything that will cause instability in the country (in the presence of the media)."

He did not elaborate.

The media was ordered out, and Chiremba gave his testimony.

The RBZ was summoned for a hearing by the Parliamentary Committee on Mines, Environment and Tourism after small scale miners told MPs in previous hearings that an RBZ subsidiary company, Carslone Private Limited was involved in illegal gold dealings.

Acting Police Commissioner Godwin Matanga also told the committee that
influencial politicians and members of the ruling Zanu PF party were involved in illegal gold dealings, but did not name them.

On the other hand, small scale miners said they had names of "powerful individuals" violating the law but were afraid to name them fearing reprisals.

After the hearing, Zanu PF Midlands senator Tsitsi Muzenda, in a briefing to
the media, said Chiremba had told them about the company's operations and had also invited them for a tour to see for themselves its operations.

According to Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gedion Gono, Zimbabwean gold producers declared 10.96 tonnes of gold in 2006, down from 13.45 tonnes in 2005.

Cumulative gold deliveries in 2006 painted a disappointing picture in this critical sector when compared to 21 tonnes achieved back in 2004. Gold deliveries for 2005 were similarly lower than for 2004.

The decline is attributed to a combination of factors, including a lack of equipment, and reduced exploration and mine development, as well as illegal smuggling of gold.
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
newsdesk@newzimbabwe.com