[miningmx.com] – ZIMBABWE was hoping to halve mining levies after companies, including Impala Platinum, complained they were hindering development, said Bloomberg News citing deputy mines minister, Gift Chimanikire.
“We have proposed to the Ministry of Finance that the mining fees be reduced by 50%,’ Bloomberg News quoted Chimanikire to have said in a December 28 interview. “We’re now waiting for the Ministry of Finance to approve the new fee structure, which will happen in the new year,’ he said.
In February, Zimbabwe raised diamond-mining licenses to $5m from $1m, while an application for a platinum-mining license climbed to $500,000 from $200. The increases were meant to deter speculative holdings of mineral claims.
“Preference will be given to small-scale miners since they are the ones who extensively lobbied government compared to established miners, although their considerations are also being looked at,’ Chimanikire said.
