By Talent Bonde
MINES minister Winston Chitando has come out guns blazing defending under fire Platinum Group Metals producers accused of under indicating the value and the range of metals they produce, saying they are instead the most law-abiding firm in the land.
In a speech read on his behalf by the ministry’s head of policy and strategic planning Mr Malcom Mazemo during the 9th edition of the Mining Media Awards, Minister Chitando disclosed allegations levelled against Platinum Group Metals producers that they were fleecing the state of revenue through under declaring value the range of minerals they produce was just unfortunate and unfair to them.
He mentioned the government was worried by these accusations as they weaken the image and reputation of law-abiding miners.
“I note the current media narrative alleging that Platinum Group Metal producers are under declaring the value and the range of metals they produce.
“This narrative has gained currency in the last few months and threatens to damage the image and reputation of the mines.
“Let me explain the metal accounting system so that [all stakeholders can understand it]. For each consignment to be exported, PGM miners give a sample with all minerals produced to a Mineral Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe official stationed at the mine. So [we capture the information on all metals exported] for financial purposes,” he said.
Minister Chitando suggested there was a need to strengthen convergence in the narratives between mining companies and the media to reach government’s developmental aspirations.
“The media [have] been at the forefront of creating narratives around extracting firms’ contributions to public expansion. Over the years, mining businesses have earned trust in the media.
“There is scope for closer partnership and more transparency by mining companies [about] access to information.
“So, I encourage mining companies and the media to build more convergence in creating and disseminating narratives in the narratives between companies and the media. We should take seriously this as the media has an important role in mining development to achieve government’s development objectives,” he said.
Minister Chitando said under the Second Republic, mining is one of the major anchors of the National Development Strategy 1 and a key driver of vision 2030 of transforming the economy to an upper middle income status in eight years’ time.
Chair of the Mining Media Awards, John Masuku told delegates media have a role to take part in the attainment of vision 2030.
“We (judges) considered stories according to concrete evidence pronounced by ordinary people, miners, industry exports and policy makers as we travel our road to realise vision 2030 and its pronouncement of an upper middle income economy.
“The wards should continue as they remain a motivating factor in the collaboration between the media and the mining industry. We welcome government’s recent licensing of community radio stations, which should play a pivotal role in promoting proper mining activities in different communities,” he said.
