Zim losing revenue as mining firms misrepresent mineral weights

Government is losing revenue as mining companies misrepresent the weights of minerals they are exporting because some of the country's border posts do not have weighbridges, a senior official said yesterday.

Deputy Mines and Mining Development Minister Gift Chimanikire said Zimbabwe was losing large sums of money as miners take advantage of borders without weighbridges and misrepresent weights.

"The smuggling of minerals has affected income through exports as the mining companies give false weights," he said in an interview.

Mr Chimanikire said a budget mix-up had delayed the completion of a weighbridge at Nyamapanda Border Post.

He said the construction that was expected to be completed in September has been moved to the end of this month because of a mix up by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Infrastructure Development which delayed transferring the money.

He, however, said construction was at an advanced stage.

"We will be moving to Chikwalakwala Border Post for another weighbridge where most exported minerals pass (through) to neighbouring countries," he said.

Mr Chimanikire said the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe was building the weighbridges under a Build, Operate and Transfer programme.

He said the programme would cover all border posts without weighbridges.