Harare warns mines to pay renewal fees

Zimbabwe has given an ultimatum to holders of mining licences to pay an annual renewal fee or face losing their licences. ‘All the mining title holders who owed money to the Ministry of Mines & Mining Development as at 31 January will be given until 30 April to pay up,’ said Mining Minister Winston Chitando. The country is home to vast gold and mineral reserves, including diamonds and platinum. And mining accounts for a large portion of Zimbabwe's foreign currency earnings. A source interviewed by AFP reportedly said the mining companies' arrears amounted to several m i l l i o n dollars. A report on the News24 site notes that the country's diamond mines have come under severe pressure when the US banned its exports of uncut diamonds because the gems are being extracted by forced labour at a major mining area in eastern Zimbabwe.