Business Reporter
The Mineral Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ), a State-owned enterprise, responsible for marketing all minerals in Zimbabwe, except silver and gold, has bought drones to enhance mineral accounting by surveilling transit cargo and production stocks.
This is part of initiatives to combat illicit mineral activities, MMCZ general manager, Dr Nomsa Moyo, said in a statement.
Mining is a strategically important sector of Zimbabwe’s economy. It accounts for about 12 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and roughly 80 percent of all shipments.
Further, mining is also a significant source of employment across the country, while key minerals include gold, platinum, chrome, nickel, coal, lithium and diamonds.
The mining sector is expected to play a key role towards the country’s vision of reaching upper middle income status by 2030 and MMCZ is strengthening the economic foundation to support the realisation of this goal.
Once licensed, the corporation plans to deploy drone technology for enhanced surveillance and real-time data detection of illegal activities. This will also allow for the effective monitoring of remote areas, tracking the movement of minerals and conducting volumetric analysis.
Dr. Moyo said drones can precisely measure the volume of excavated material and stockpiles, enabling accurate reconciliation with declared production and identifying discrepancies that may indicate illicit extraction or trade.
Zimbabwe has reportedly faced rampant mineral leakages, with anecdotal evidence suggesting the country loses millions of dollars through smuggling.
A recent study by the Southern Africa Resource Watch (SARW) identified Zimbabwe’s remote airstrips as a strategic avenue for smuggling precious minerals out of the country, raising concerns about revenue leakages.
SARW, an independent non-profit organisation monitoring natural resource extraction in the southern African region, has noted that the clandestine operations are being enabled by a lack of technology and modern radar systems capable of effectively monitoring these aviation facilities.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) does not have a dedicated radar system, specifically for small airstrips, as most smaller airports in the country typically rely on basic visual monitoring due to the high cost of installing and maintaining a full radar system at such locations
However, there are efforts to install enhanced ground-to-air communication systems at various airports, improving air traffic control capabilities even without a dedicated radar on smaller airstrips.
Last year, CAAZ commissioned a new Air Traffic Control Communications System at eight airports nationwide.
The system incorporates surveillance equipment designed to monitor the country’s airspace within a designated flight information region.
While the report did not disclose specific minerals being smuggled, Zimbabwe is known to possess significant reserves of gold, diamonds and other precious resources, making them lucrative targets for illicit trade.
“Border controls are important, but small aeroplanes may still be a menace,” said the report. Previous reports have exposed the large-scale smuggling from Zimbabwe using private jets, with gold and diamond smuggling being particularly prevalent.
For instance, some observers suggest the country’s official gold output statistics may only represent a fraction of the actual production, with a significant portion being smuggled out of the country through clandestine operations.
The use of private jets allows smugglers to bypass regular customs checks and transport large quantities of precious minerals undetected. The scale of the smuggling is so significant that some critics believe the actual gold output could be more than double the officially reported figures.
In further efforts to curb corruption, the MMCZ is finalising the launch of a whistle-blowing facility.
The initiative is meant to raise awareness and encourage all Zimbabweans to report corrupt activities that may lead to mineral revenue loss.
The MMCZ emphasises that minerals are a national asset that must be exported at correct values and appropriately taxed.
The Government has been working to improve the attractiveness of the country’s mining industry and economy in general through policy reforms and incentives such as tax breaks and tax-free zones.
-Zimpapers
