By Midlands Correspondent – Monday 6September 2021
Harare (Mining Index) -A TOP Ministry of Mines and Mining Development official in Midlands has come under a barrage of criticism from mining prospectors for unprofessional conduct, disregard of the law and corruption allegations.
The provincial mines ministry Cadastre Official Pikirai Macheza is accused of undermining peggers through his claims that peggers are not qualified to carry out the verification process and therefore should exercise their work under the blessings of a surveyor.
A fuming Zimbabwe Prospectors Union (ZPU) president Samson Dzingwe told Mining Index that Macheza’s statement is unfortunate.
“The Midlands Ministry of Mines is doing illegal things as they are unprofessionally handling issues. They are disregarding the Mines And Minerals Act. They are actually disregarding the law as they are a law unto themselves,” said Dzingwe.
He added that Macheza had no power to change the Mines and Minerals Act.
“According to the Mines and Minerals Act, the only person that is allowed to capture coordinates or erect beacons is an approved prospector. In this regard, you hear Macheza, a mere Cadastre Officer at the Ministry of Mines in Gweru arguing that we are not qualified to carry out the pegging,” he said.
Dzingwe accused Macheza of bringing in unregistered prospectors to do the pegging.
“What he is doing is illegal and unprofessional. He has no right or power to include other people who are not accredited and registered by the Mines Ministry while accredited professionals are being sidelined. The Mines and Minerals Act does not allow any other person who is not an approved prospector to perform the work,” he said.
He further accused the provincial mines ministry of corruption alleging that they are allowing unqualified people to capture coordinates from bigger mines such as Unki, Mimosa, Zimasco and Marowa Diamonds amongst others in return of kick-backs.
“They are given money to allow their friends to operate without accreditation and without registration from the parent ministry, which is illegal and unprofessional. They are disregarding people who paid their fees to practice,” said Dzingwe. ENDS //www.miningindex.co.zw
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