Minister Zhemu Soda addressing participants at the workshop in Masvingo
By Herbert Zisengwe
The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development is operating in line with Vision 2030 as it drives towards the 12 billion mining industry by the end of the year 2023.
This was said by the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Honorable Zhemu Soda in his keynote address at the recently held 2023 Mid-term Performance Review Workshop and 2024 Strategic Planning Session in Masvingo.
“The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development is currently driving towards the USD 12 billion mining industry in line with Vision 2030 of Zimbabwe becoming “An empowered and prosperous upper middle-income society by the year 2030” as espoused by His Excellency, The President.”
‘’This is in line with the National Development Strategy (NDS-1), and shall be carried into NDS-2. Our Ministry feeds into a number of clusters, chief among these being 4 of the 14 thematic areas enshrined in the NDS1 these being;
Moving the Economy up the Value Chain and structural transformation; Environmental protection, climate resilience and natural resources management; Economic Growth and Stability; and Devolution and Decentralization” he said.
He added that, “Attraction of investments; Improving the legal framework; Enhancing exploration and Opening new mines” are the four policies and strategies key in growing the sector.
The Minister specifically mentioned Dinson Iron and Steel project, Sabi Star and Zulu Lithium as newly opened mines supporting the growth of the mining sector.
He also stated that the sector’s growth relied on expansion of existing mines, beneficiation and value addition projects giving examples of Pickstone Peerless Mine, Zimplats and Unki on expansion as well as Dinson Iron and Steel project and Zimplats’ Base Metal Refinery on beneficiation and value addition.
Given that the ministry has faced a plethora of challenges linked to dangerous mining practices and minerals leakages, Minister Soda said, “Safe and sustainable mining methods, capacitation of small-scale miners, export market development, minimization of mineral leakages” will be pursued with vigour.
To safeguard critical minerals and harmonize local approaches with global good practices, the minister said critical was to develop curricular for critical minerals, participate in global bodies as well as review and implementation of MoUs.
In terms of good governance and performance, the minister noted strategies such as implementation of corporate governance requirements, improved service delivery and combating corruption.
The mining sector has registered tremendous growth in the New Dispensation. Since 2017, the industry has exceeded US$20 billion in cumulative mineral exports and is on track to achieve the US$12 billion mining sector economy by the end of 2023.
Zimbabwe, which has over 60 international tradeable minerals, has the largest lithium reserve in Africa and the sixth largest lithium reserve in the world. It also has the second highest deposits of platinum in the world and government has been improving policies and strategies to ensure the country benefits fully from these minerals.
The mining sector is the second economic pillar after agriculture in Zimbabwe.
The workshop was also attended by the Minister of state for provincial affairs and devolution for Masvingo province, Honourable Ezra Chadzamira, Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development Honourable Eng.Dr Polite Kambamura and Permanent Secretary for Mines and Mining Development, Mr Pfungwa Kunaka, chairpersons of various mining boards, among other government officials and stakeholders.
