Issue of natural resources remain controversial

EDITOR — The issue of natural resources in Zimbabwe has remained a controversial one as ordinary people are not benefiting much from the rich natural resources in the country.

As the cash crisis is affecting all of us this is an opportunity to discuss the liberalisation of the mining laws to allow individuals to trade in gold and other precious stones.

Every time the President of Zimbabwe addresses the international community, he has to remind them that Zimbabwe as a landlocked country is rich in natural resource and these should benefit the black majority.

Therefore there is no need that our lovely country should have a cash crisis that we are going through.

The only solution to our cash crisis is for the Zimbabwean Government to repeal the old colonial laws that make it illegal for its citizens to trade in gold and other precious stone.

Our government has introduced laws that empowers Zimbabwe’s indigenous people yet these laws do not empower a shop keeper to buy these precious stones from an ordinary person.

In the Middle East and Asia, gold and other pre- cious minerals are traded on the streets and market places like Mbare Musika without any restrictions. That is the Way that Zimbabwe should go. The mineral exploration of a nation with the world’s largest diamond reserves, second largest platinum reserves and over 40 exploitable minerals has the potential to turn Zimbabwe into the jewel of Africa.

There is always hope in our motherland and let’s make it real.

Jacob Kudzayi Mtisi