Biti Demands Chitando Explain Issuance Of Special Mining Rights

Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti, who is MP for Harare East (CCC) on Thursday requested Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando and his ministry’s officials to explain the issuance of special mining leases to several mining companies.

Rising on a point of privilege in Parliament, Biti said special mining rights were now being “distributed like cakes at a wedding” and requested that Chitando explains the development. Biti said:

I am talking of the platinum leases like the one given to the Russian company, DGI, which has stopped operating at the moment.

These special mining leases are now too numerous. Another example is that of Manhize in Chivi where there is the mining of iron ore.

Manhize was giving iron ore resources of 43 billion metric tonnes, but no money has come to Zimbabwe.

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It hurts because we are mortgaging our country with these special leases and at the end of the day, Zimbabwe receives nothing.

I request that the Mines Minister should come and give a statement on special mining leases that he has [not] given from 2018 to date.

How much money has been raised from them? What were the criteria used in awarding licences?

What investments have been done by such mines, and why did he not come before Parliament for us to be in a position to grant those mining leases because Zimbabwe is now impoverished?

I want Hon. Chitando to come and give us a report. Zimbabwe belongs to its own people and we should not sell it.

In response, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Tsitsi Gezi said Chitando will be requested to make a ministerial statement on the issue of special mining leases. Said Gezi:

We have heard you and the message will be conveyed to Honourable Chitando to come and make a ministerial statement in response to the issues you have raised.

| NewZimbabwe.com