News / National
We will not nationalise diamond fields: Mpofu
11 Nov 2011 at 05:21hrs | Views
Mines minister Obert Mpofu says he would not allow the destruction of Zimbabwe's mining sector by heeding calls to nationalise diamond fields, the Independent reported.
MDC-T MP for Bulawayo South Eddie Cross, who is also the party's policy coordinator, last month called for the nationalisation of the Marange diamond fields to fund the national fiscus. But Mpofu told journalists in Harare on Wednesday that Cross's comments were "reckless and irresponsible" and his ministry would not be advised by the MP.
"His party has distanced itself from his statements.
Look at where he came from, for example the CSC (Cold Storage Commission). The company will never recover because of what he did to it. I will not allow him to destroy the mining sector with such strange ideas.
We know what we are doing. He wanted to pre-empt results of the plenary last week in the DRC to please his handlers but he failed," said Mpofu.
Mpofu said Zimbabwe would go ahead with exporting its diamonds regardless of how long it takes for the Kimberley Processing monitoring team to release a report of their findings about the local diamond industry.
The team comprises Abbey Chikane and Mark van Bockstael. Fingaz reported yesterday that government has passed a resolution for the state to nationalise and assume control of the country's alluvial diamonds in Marange.
The decision to nationalise the gems followed intense bickering over diamond revenues, with Finance minister Tendai Biti saying derisory amounts were being remitted to Treasury, charges denied by Mpofu.
MDC-T MP for Bulawayo South Eddie Cross, who is also the party's policy coordinator, last month called for the nationalisation of the Marange diamond fields to fund the national fiscus. But Mpofu told journalists in Harare on Wednesday that Cross's comments were "reckless and irresponsible" and his ministry would not be advised by the MP.
"His party has distanced itself from his statements.
Look at where he came from, for example the CSC (Cold Storage Commission). The company will never recover because of what he did to it. I will not allow him to destroy the mining sector with such strange ideas.
We know what we are doing. He wanted to pre-empt results of the plenary last week in the DRC to please his handlers but he failed," said Mpofu.
Mpofu said Zimbabwe would go ahead with exporting its diamonds regardless of how long it takes for the Kimberley Processing monitoring team to release a report of their findings about the local diamond industry.
The team comprises Abbey Chikane and Mark van Bockstael. Fingaz reported yesterday that government has passed a resolution for the state to nationalise and assume control of the country's alluvial diamonds in Marange.
The decision to nationalise the gems followed intense bickering over diamond revenues, with Finance minister Tendai Biti saying derisory amounts were being remitted to Treasury, charges denied by Mpofu.
Source - standard
