Mines Ministry Secretary Under Fire for Alleged Circumvention of Granite Export Ban
Pfungwa Kunaka, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Mines in Zimbabwe, faces accusations of issuing a waiver that allows one company to continue exporting raw granite, despite a government ban.
This alleged preferential treatment has sparked concerns of corruption and a lack of transparency within the ministry.
The government implemented a ban on raw granite exports in 2022, aiming to encourage local processing and value addition within the industry. Statutory Instrument (SI) 127 of 2022 outlines the regulations, specifying that waivers for raw granite exports can only be granted under specific conditions, including a presented value-addition plan and a contract with the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ). Additionally, the SI stipulates a maximum waiver period of three months.
Sources within the Ministry allege that Kunaka granted a six-month waiver to Inducon, a private company, bypassing the established procedures. This action reportedly came after a closed meeting between Kunaka and Inducon representatives. Furthermore, applications for waivers submitted by other mining companies remain unprocessed.
The preferential treatment of Inducon has caused discontent among other granite exporters. An anonymous source within the ministry highlighted the frustration, stating, “Granite exporters are questioning why Inducon Investments was granted a six-month waiver.
The only exceptions for exportation were supposed to be based on a value addition plan and a contract with MMCZ, with a waiver period limited to three months.” This source further labelled the situation as “abuse of office and corruption.”
The Ministry of Mines has not yet responded to inquiries regarding Kunaka’s actions. This ongoing situation raises concerns about the transparency and fairness within the granite export industry in Zimbabwe.
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