Charleen Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Miners Federation has urged small-scale miners to input in the re-drafting of the Mines and Mineral Amendment Bill after the early document was rejected by President Mnangagwa.
In his address during the launch of MetBank’s electronic multi-purpose membership card for small-scale miners in Bubi District on Wednesday, ZMF general council chairperson Mr Makumba Nyenje said small-scale miners should take the reversal of the bill as an opportunity that will resolve some of the challenges faced by miners.
“The President has reversed the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill and we as miners should make contributions of what we want to be included in that bill. We as the general council are saying this is your chance. I urge you within your associations to make these contributions through your chairpersons. When we hold workshops in the future your contributions should escalate so that we as the general council can take them up so that they are included in the bill,” he said.
“In some cases, as small-scale miners, we are being taken as equals to big scale- miners, be it on levies or requisite papers. As small-scale miners we do not have enough funds to meet some of these demands. So we are saying that we need a special consideration as small-scale miners,” he said.
Mr Nyenje said some of the clauses in the rejected bill were too harsh and had been overlooked.
The Mines and Mineral Amendment Bill which sailed through Parliament early this year is set to be re-tabled after President Emmerson Mnangagwa declined to give his assent and referred it back to the legislature.
The President and Government expressed worries on some of the sections of the Bill which he felt violated the Constitution.