WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.
Original Post Date: 2009-05-18 Time: 20:00:03 Posted By: Jan
Harare – GOVERNMENT has launched investigations into alleged illegal issuing of mine prospecting licences, existence of ghost prospectors and rampant embezzlement of State funds.
It is alleged that several Ministry of Mines officials now had personal receipt books, departing from the centralised receipting system, which was the norm.
Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu yesterday said the audit would unlock underhand dealings that took centre stage after the introduction of multiple currencies earlier this year.
Speaking at a workshop organised by the Zimbabwe Miners’ Federation in Harare, Minister Mpofu said his ministry was aware that some prospecting licence holders were not issued with receipts while others were clandestinely issued with licences.
The bulk of the money, he said, went into the pockets of ministry officers.
“All those that have prospecting licences but do not have proper receipts should bring back these so that they can be issued with proper receipts,” he said.
Minister Mpofu said the exercise was part of in-house cleansing that seeks to establish if the fees charged for the prospecting licences went into Stare coffers or individual pockets.
The audit also seeks to flush out those who were clandestinely issued with licences.
“We hear that there are situations where officials told clients to wait for a receipt that was being kept by a fellow officer.
“How is that possible? How can someone have a personal receipt book? How does one account for money received when it is receipted in someone else’s receipt book?” he asked.
The minister said the audit would also look into the credentials and documentation of all those issued with licences.
“We have discovered that some of the applicants do not have money to buy even a goat let alone money for prospecting,” he said.
Minister Mpofu said Government was working round the clock to address other issues where prospective miners were being short-changed or harassed by officials at the ministry.
He said the ministry was doing all it could to ensure the success of the small-scale mining sector.
The minister, however, appealed to small-scale miners to come together and form one umbrella organisation.
“At the moment we have Youths in Mining, Women in Mining, this and that. This confuses us at the ministry.
“The problem with this is that you have to denigrate the other organisation for yours to gain publicity yet you are all friends and fighting for the same things.
“Why can’t you sit down as stakeholders and come up with one organisation to represent you,” he said.
The minister said small-scale miners were free to apply for prospecting licences for any mineral including diamonds, which are considered a preserve of the rich.
“Restriction in terms of diamond mining only applies to diamond fields in Chiadzwa, Marange, but even there, we are looking for investors to help us develop diamond mining,” he said.
The minister said Government had not prohibited the mining of diamonds and those interested should seek prospecting licences from the relevant authority.
He was responding to concerns by the ZMF on why its members, mainly small and medium-scale miners, were being sidelined from mining diamonds.
Minister Mpofu challenged the miners to apply for prospecting and mining licences.
“Apply for claims and we will give them to you. Those that know deposits elsewhere do apply and we will allow you to do it (mining diamonds),” he said.
Minister Mpofu said diamonds were open to mining as long as proper procedures and regulations like obtaining prospecting and mining licences were followed.
“It is not taboo to talk about diamonds. We have never prohibited the mining of diamonds in this country,” Minister Mpofu said.
The ZMF said apart from Chiadzwa there were diamonds in some parts of the country like Plumtree in Matabeleland South.
The Chiadzwa diamond fields are in a protected zone and open to mining to those with special grants only.
Government is currently looking for investors to mine the Chiadzwa diamonds.
Confusion over diamond mining in Zimbabwe followed a crackdown on illegal panners in Chiadzwa by Government last year.
Minister Mpofu urged small- and medium-scale miners to be proactive to ensure the successful turnaround of the economy.
He said Government was “in a hurry to deliver” as people were waiting for positive outcomes from the inclusive Government.
Minister Mpofu said Government was addressing concerns by the small and medium-scale miners that included lack of funds and equipment.
He has assigned his deputy, Murisi Zwizwai, to deal with the challenges faced by the miners.
Original Source: 
Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Original date published: 16 May 2009
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/200905180560.html?viewall=1