Herald Reporter
THE Ministry of Mines and Mining Development says it has recovered precious minerals worth nearly $2,5 million from illegal dealers as at August this year following a joint operation with the police. The minerals include diamonds, gold and emeralds. Mines and Mining Development Secretary Professor Francis Gudyanga in a statement last week said recoveries of gold and diamonds valued at $2 452 034,82 were made between September 2014 and August this year.
“These recoveries relate to possession of gold and diamonds without licence or permits by about 360 persons or incidents. This is a result of close collaboration between the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and the Zimbabwe Republic Police,” he said.
Professor Gudyanga said recoveries of gold accounted for $1 565 556,97; diamonds $88 561.33 and $786,52 for emeralds.
He said in some cases the precious minerals were intercepted while being smuggled out of the country.
Statistics released by the ministry show that Matabeleland South topped the list of gold recoveries.
Gold worth $870 158,21 was recovered in the province.
Harare topped diamond recoveries with gems worth $865 891,23 confiscated.
In Mashonaland West, gold worth $200 019,09 was recovered while Masvingo accounted for gold worth $2 452,00.
No diamonds and emeralds were recovered in the two provinces.
Police and the ministry recovered gold worth $86 178,55 and diamonds valued at $5 529, 79 in Bulawayo province.
Emeralds worth $786,52 were recovered in the Midlands Province, gold ($54 773,13) and $1 008,00 (diamonds).
In Manicaland, diamonds worth $13 262,31 were recovered while gold valued at $3 932,61 was confiscated.
The operation netted gold valued at $1 651,88 in Mashonaland East, Matabeleland North ($328,00) and Mashonaland Central $27 158,65.
No diamonds and emeralds were recovered in the three provinces.
Presenting his Mid-Term Policy Statement, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said $1,8 billion worth of minerals were lost annually through smuggling, illegal dealings, corruption, fraud, tax evasion and externalisation.
Minister Chinamasa said Treasury, in collaboration with key Government ministries, was going to roll out a number of measures to plug the leakages.
Minerals account for half of the country’s annual export revenue, led by gold and platinum earnings.