Mines and mining audit launched to inspect complia...

Mines and mining audit launched to inspect compliance to Act

Mine Managers urged to invest in research — **Pfungwa Kunaka**

The government has sent-off an audit team to mining areas to inspect if companies in the industry are operating within the laws relating to labour, taxes, the environment, and immigration.

The audit is being done at a time when the country's rules are being broken in the mining industry.

Recently, the lithium mine Bikita Minerals, owned by China’s Sinomine Resource Group, was ordered to suspend operations until it complies with legal provisions that include labour, environmental and immigration laws.

Mines and Mining Development permanent secretary Pfungwa Kunaka said the responsible mining team was launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on May 11 2023 and was sent off as an audit team into the field.

“The responsive audit team has been on the ground starting 11 May to check on compliance of the laws of the land.

“So, these are teams which are visiting mining establishments throughout the country to check on compliance with labour laws, with tax laws, environment, immigration and all those things.

“This will bring out information in terms of compliance of our miners whether small or big.

“This exercise will bring out whether or not all our investors are complying and such things like in any other audits, get corrected if there is an area with challenges and corrective measures will be implemented.

“This is to ensure that processes are carried out in a sustainable way," Kunaka said.

The move followed the launch of an ambitious plan to transform the mining sector into a US$12 billion export industry by the end of 2023.

The plan was launched in October 2019, declaring mining as a key pillar to sustainable economic growth.

An achievement of that target would represent a 275% jump from the US$3,2 billion realised through exporting mining commodities in 2018.

The blueprint targets a gold output of US$4 billion per year with platinum at US$3 billion.

Diamond mining and polishing was set at US$1 billion, equal to the combined target of chrome, nickel and steel.

Coal, hydrocarbons, lithium and other minerals were projected to contribute the remaining US$3 billion.

The mines ministry has been making efforts to amend the Mines and Minerals Act which has been roundly criticised for failing to incorporate community representation, which has led to unsustainable mining practices.