Mugabe ‘micro-managing’ Mines ministry

BY PATIENCE NYANGOVE PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe is reportedly micro-managing the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development following rampant reports of corruption by senior Ministry officials, authoritative sources said. The sources said Mugabe was not happy with the way special mining grants were awarded to miners with some paying amo-unts ranging from US$100 000 and US$500 000 with an insignificant amount being paid to government. They said Mugabe was also incensed by the continued reports of senior officials who were demanding bribes in exchange of lucrative mining rights. For the past few months, said the sources, Mugabe has been deeply involved in the awarding of special grants to miners before signing them because he does not trust senior officials in the ministry. “The President no longer trusts anyone within our ministry because of the rampant corruption among senior ministry officials,” said one source. “There is even an incident where a very senior official had his other eye injured in skirmishes with some prospective miners who were duped of their money.” Responsible minister Obert Mpofu on Friday refuted the allegations adding that it was “rubbish” that Mugabe was now overseeing some major functions within his ministry. “I don’t know what you are talking about. It’s actually rubbish because the President has got nothing to do with the issuing of special grants,” he said before he hung up his mobile phone. However, in sharp contradiction with Mpofu, Presidential spokesperson George Charamba admitted that Mugabe was in actual fact overseeing the awarding of the special grants in the mining sector. He, however, tried to downplay the issue. “They have always been done by President Mugabe,” said Charamba. “No wealth can just be placed in the hands of people without the President’s consent. So the President routinely deals with the issue of mineral grants.” Last year, Mpofu was accused in front of Mugabe of soliciting for bribes by Canadile Miners (Pvt) Limited deputy chairman Lovemore Kurotwi, revelations that are said to have stunned  the President. Kurotwi is currently being charged with fraudulently acquiring diamond mining claims in Chiadzwa in Manicaland province.