The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE acute downward spiral of tantalite prices on the international market has resulted in the sudden disappearance of both local and foreign mining investors who had invaded Buhera District.
Fielding questions from Members of the House of Assembly during the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development two-day workshop here in Vumba, MMCZ marketing manager Mr Gumisai Nenzou said: “There is a fluctuation of the minerals that we actively market as a corporate.
“For example, there was once a hype around tantalite mining in Buhera District here in Manicaland. The demand was spurred by cellphone manufacturing clients who needed the product.
“We saw numerous tantalite mining bases being set up in Buhera and at the time tantalite was going for US$1 200 per kilogram. Today, the same product has drastically gone down to US$100 for the same weight.
“Given the production costs and other mining related expenses it might no longer make any business sense hence the disappearance of those who were mining it in Buhera.”
The gathering in Vumba is meant to establish a strong foundation for collaboration between the MMCZ and the Parly Committee while equipping participants with a comprehensive understanding of the MMCZ’s mandate, strategic direction, and current operations.
MMCZ was established to monitor and promote export of all minerals produced in Zimbabwe with the exception of gold and silver which are dealt with by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe has 60 different mineral products, half of them currently actively being exported but the country has been losing revenue from these minerals export owing to leakages at porous ports of exit such as Forbes Border Post in Mutare.
While MMCZ has been monitoring movement of minerals from production site, with their inspectors operating within mineral producing sites, and partially through the export process, they have not been allowed to be stationed at the country’s ports of exit under the excuse that their presence would militate against ease of doing business.
In their contribution during the MMCZ Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development two-day workshop here in Vumba a number of Members of Parliament emphasized the need to have MMCZ presence felt.
Mutare North Member of the House of Assembly Cde Admire Mahachi said: “There is need to have MMCZ present at the place where minerals are getting outside the country. This is their actual job. Their job is not primarily in the offices but in the field and the border is one place where they have to ensure the country is not losing anything though their presence,” he said.
Headlands Member of the House of Assembly Cde Farai Mapfumo said the country must not sacrifice the God given minerals on the altar of ease of doing business.
“Yes, we need to be seen to be facilitating ease of doing business. No one denies that. However, we should not be seen to be sacrifice the God given minerals on the altar of ease of doing business.
“There are ways that can certainly be worked out to ensure that we secure our minerals while at the same time provide ease of doing business for our visitors or investors.
“MMCZ should be right at the border and given space to operate without necessarily hindering smooth flow of business at a given border post,” he said.
