Zim scrambles to clarify Mugabe mine-grab policy

Zim scrambles to clarify Mugabe mine-grab policy

MUGABE

• Mugabe wants 50pc shares in mines

• Anglo America mining rights revoked

• Mugabe gives 49pc mining rights to blacks

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• IMF team on surveillance mission in Zim

By Agencies

REPORTS of statements by Zimbabwe’s president in the government’s Herald newspaper were misquotes according to a senior government official.

On Monday the government controlled daily Herald, quoted Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe as saying: “We are going to demand that government be given 50 percent shares in the mines.”

Tinaye Chigudu, the permanent secretary of mines and mines development in Zimbabwe, told Mineweb the newspaper was “twisting words to sell more copies”. “I have not known a situation where government policy is announced by one individual,” says Chigudu.

The secretary says he had not got hold of the president’s office as yet, but said he believes Mugabe was talking about “idle land” and prospecting order rights. “These people own the rights to this land and are doing nothing on it,” he said, “It is something we have been talking about.”

Although the ministry feels more ownership should be acquired on this land, he said no official ownership stake has been decided on yet.

“We have sent a dummy bill to all the stakeholders in the industry, they have three weeks to reply with their proposals,” says Chigudu.

Earlier this year, a draft bill was leaked to the public. If that draft were to have been ratified by parliament, 49 percent ownership in the country’s minesould have to be transferred into the hands of Zimbabweans. Chigudu says this bill was drafted by the previous secretary and was thrown out by parliament - Mineweb.com
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