Miners get Govt tax reprieve

THE Government has extended an olive branch to miners whose gold mining claims were forfeited over nonremittance of taxes.

Addressing artisanal and small-scale miners in Bulawayo on Friday, Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Fred Moyo said the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development had agreed in principle to give miners a reprieve to settle their outstanding taxes through coming up with payment plans.

A total of 5 267 claims in the Matabeleland region were forfeited by the State rendering more than 50 000 people unemployed.

Small-scale miners are required to pay a levy of $100 annually.

“If the miners want payment plans to pay their claim fees that can be worked on but the certificate will only be given after full payment . . . Minister (Patrick) Chinamasa (Finance) will be expecting his money. What we can do is to give the miners time to work but if they fail to honour the payment plan, there will be no second chance,” said Dep Minister Moyo.

He said the ministry through the Provincial Mining Director ( PMD)’s office was going to come up with a checklist of forfeited claims in each district further stating that the checklist would be categorised to include inactive miners and those that have never submitted returns to Fidelity Printers and Refiners.

“The list that the PMD’s office will come up with will be the criteria used to reverse claim forfeitures. Ideally we would want this process to be done in less than a month so that we also have time to engage Minister Chinamasa’s office,” he said.

Speaking at the same occassion, a member of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy and Member of Parliament for ZvishavaneNgezi John Holder said miners were justified to request for a window period from the ministry as they were previously not notified of the forfeitures due to the transition that took place when commissioners were changed to district directors.

Meanwhile, miners urged the Government to assist them to acquire mining so as to increase their production and be in a position to remit taxes.

“The problem that most small-scale miners are facing is that they do not have sufficient equipment. You cannot expect someone to produce a lot of tonnes through using rudimental methods but if the Government were to assist with the necessary machinery then we will be able to pay for our claims,” said one of the delegates.