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Zimbabwe tightens gold smuggling crackdown
13 hrs ago |
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Mines and Mining Development Minister Dr Polite Kambamura says the government is intensifying efforts to curb gold smuggling and mineral leakages as it seeks to boost production, strengthen gold reserves and support the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency.
Speaking after a technical tour of Freda Rebecca Gold Mine in Bindura, Dr Kambamura said every gramme of gold produced should reach formal markets to maximise benefits for the country.
"So we should be proud of our ZiG, but to do so, we need to take that gold from the ground, that gramme from the ground, that kg from the ground," he said.
The minister said the government was carrying out inspections at mining operations across the country to ensure compliance and eliminate illegal leakages.
"We are currently going around the country, monitoring every mining operation to ensure that there are no leakages, minimise gold smuggling and so forth, in efforts to build our gold reserves as Government," he said.
Kambamura said gold remains a critical asset underpinning Zimbabwe's currency and broader economic stability, making it essential for the country to retain as much of its production as possible through formal channels.
During the visit, he commended Freda Rebecca Gold Mine for its operational performance, expansion programme and commitment to workplace safety.
The minister described the mine as a benchmark for the industry after it recently achieved one million fatality-free shifts under the management of Mutapa Gold Resources.
Meanwhile, the government has stepped up enforcement against unsafe and non-compliant mining operations as part of its broader reforms in the sector.
According to Kambamura, authorities have so far shut down 22 mines across the country during the ongoing compliance blitz aimed at improving safety standards and curbing illegal mining activities.
The crackdown forms part of the government's wider strategy to increase gold deliveries through official channels, reduce smuggling and strengthen Zimbabwe's foreign currency and gold reserves.
Speaking after a technical tour of Freda Rebecca Gold Mine in Bindura, Dr Kambamura said every gramme of gold produced should reach formal markets to maximise benefits for the country.
"So we should be proud of our ZiG, but to do so, we need to take that gold from the ground, that gramme from the ground, that kg from the ground," he said.
The minister said the government was carrying out inspections at mining operations across the country to ensure compliance and eliminate illegal leakages.
"We are currently going around the country, monitoring every mining operation to ensure that there are no leakages, minimise gold smuggling and so forth, in efforts to build our gold reserves as Government," he said.
During the visit, he commended Freda Rebecca Gold Mine for its operational performance, expansion programme and commitment to workplace safety.
The minister described the mine as a benchmark for the industry after it recently achieved one million fatality-free shifts under the management of Mutapa Gold Resources.
Meanwhile, the government has stepped up enforcement against unsafe and non-compliant mining operations as part of its broader reforms in the sector.
According to Kambamura, authorities have so far shut down 22 mines across the country during the ongoing compliance blitz aimed at improving safety standards and curbing illegal mining activities.
The crackdown forms part of the government's wider strategy to increase gold deliveries through official channels, reduce smuggling and strengthen Zimbabwe's foreign currency and gold reserves.
Source - ZiFM Stereo
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