Philemon Jambaya

The rumors about the discovery of oil and gas, is good news considering the ZANU PF economic revival agenda but the manner in which diamond discoveries in Marange have been handled left a lot of unanswered questions around issues of beneficiation.

One of the questions is on the issue of laws governing mining and exploration of minerals, which are not clear and prone to manipulation by mining companies.

If it is true that oil and gas has been found, it is high time Zimbabwe re-visit the laws of mining and exploration so that the economy can benefit from the revenue inflows from those minerals.

State media reports are saying that the Government mandated a team of experts to confirm the existence of the oil and gas reserves.

Geo Associates and Invictus Energy Resources are said to be assisting the Mines Ministry and the Geological Survey Department in the project.

Many questions have been raised about the new discovery of minerals.

The biggest problem in the mining sector is about the selection of investors has been shrouded in secrecy as tender procedures are sometimes not followed.

The mining sector in Zimbabwe is plagued with corruption, lack of transparency and accountability and mismanagement.

Mr. Mutoso Dhliwayo the Director of Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) said that Zimbabwe need to come with a policy and a law framework to protect the extraction of oil and gas from foreigners.

“I am not sure if oil and gas is there, but if it is true that oil and gas is there we need to come up with a policy and a law framework to protect our resources so that at the of the day we Zimbabweans benefit.

Chinese have been found wanting when they were assigned and mandated to mine diamond in Chiadzwa, where reports in the media suggest that the companies did not contribute to the fiscus.

The Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Honorable Walter Chidakwa refused to comment on the matter saying that the information is not yet ripe enough to be given to the public.

“Right now I am at a funeral and I cannot comment on that issue because the information about gas and oil is not yet ready to be given to the public.” Chidakwa said.

If it is true that Zimbabwe has found oil and gas it is high time we re-visit the laws of mining and exploration so that our economy can boost from the revenue of oil and gas.

Most people are of the view that the discovery of oil and gas will not change anything since the government failed to be accountable on diamonds in Chiadzwa

A local weekly newspaper on Sunday reported that “Between 1989 and 1993, Mobil Oil explored a part of the Zambezi Valley in the Cabora Bassa Basin spanning 30 120 square kilometres.”