Clemence Manyukwe, Political Editor
AFRICAN Consolidated Resources (ACR) says it is agreeable to an out of court settlement, preferably a joint venture with the coalition government to end a bitter ownership wrangle over Marange diamonds. In a letter to Finance Minister, Tendai Biti on Monday, the mining firm appealed to the minister to act as a broker for such a deal citing animosity and mistrust between itself and other parties in the dispute who include Mines and Mining Development Minister, Obert Mpofu.
Last week in his Mid-Term Fiscal Policy Review statement, Biti was the first to suggest an out of court settlement in what he termed a win-win situation between ACR and the government in their wrangle over Marange claims.
The dispute is currently before the Supreme Court after government appealed against last year’s verdict delivered by High Court Judge, Charles Hungwe, which said the claims belonged to the mining company.
In its communication to Biti, ACR restated its position that at law and as a matter of fact, the diamonds belonged to it, but it was now open to a partnership with government — a position it said it has held since 2006.
Besides a partnership, the company said it remains open to any other reasonable proposal.
“We remain willing to consider any reasonable proposal to resolve matters amicably.
“Unfortunately, there is animosity and mistrust between parties at present and accordingly we would welcome a pro-active role from your office to bring the parties to a negotiating table, on an entirely without prejudice basis,” wrote Andrew Cranswick, the chief executive officer of ACR.
The communication was also copied to President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
“Whilst we remain confident that the law and the facts are clearly supportive of our position, we appreciate that this is a matter of national importance, which must be resolved, preferably by acceptable compromise,” added Cranswick.
ACR has previously stated that it supports the sale of the diamonds on condition that the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme criterion is met and that 100 percent of gross revenue from the mine is received by the fiscus.
In his Mid-Term Fiscal Review statement last week, Biti said diamonds worth US$30 million had been sold but nothing was realised by either Treasury or the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.
“It is important that any revenue from Marange is accounted for transparently in terms of the law, with the consolidated revenue fund receiving its dues in full under Parliamentary oversight in terms of the Constitution,” said Biti.
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written by Jabulani Moyo, July 29, 2010
written by Jabulani Moyo, July 29, 2010
It is important that a workable solution be found with the ACR.The country needs then to gain credibility and access to the international diamond markets. ACR is however aware that given the racial history of the country that led to them and at the exclusion of black Zimbabwean having the mining rights, they cannot push their luck too much. On the government side, there has unfortunately been too much lack of accountability pertaining to the extraction and sale of the diamonds. We should not fall into the trap of blocking white thugs from plundering the country only to open the doors to government linked thieves. measures have to be taken to ensure that the whole country benefits.
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written by Nkulumane Ncube, July 28, 2010
written by Nkulumane Ncube, July 28, 2010
It would be a total shame if the ACR would be given too much credit for what in reality is national heritage.Do you now understand why lawsin e.g Botswana say that all the mineral wealth in the land belongs to the state and any other player can only be a stratergic partne? Compare with RSA where Royal bafokeng end up being in principle very insolent on the basis that they own the whole of the Limpopo wealth under the Rusternburg region so much for Indeginous empowerment though.
A sane arrangement has to come into place PLEASE!! ACR cannot be legitimately entitled to those mine fields they are Zimbabwean mine fields by the way!!
A sane arrangement has to come into place PLEASE!! ACR cannot be legitimately entitled to those mine fields they are Zimbabwean mine fields by the way!!
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written by Frior Mondy, July 27, 2010
written by Frior Mondy, July 27, 2010
Can anybody advise if there was any single structure/equipment which ACR put up at the Marange Fields.Is it true that it was just relying on panners.
Is there no possibility that it remained very quite and did not want to do anything about the diamond discovery because then it would have uplifted the Zimbabwe economy and hence propel the so called "Mugabe regime" then before election time?????????.
Now that the dust seems to have settled and there is a coalition government,it is making noise and it wants its share of the national cake.
I propose the Government continues to pursue the cancellation of their concessions as they have already alluded to.
The best they can do for them is to give them the 1% which was being targeted by the NGO's at the Tel Aviv conf once and for all as a token.No partnership with people who were holding on to our resources silently and with sabotage in mind then.
Proudly Zimbabwean
Is there no possibility that it remained very quite and did not want to do anything about the diamond discovery because then it would have uplifted the Zimbabwe economy and hence propel the so called "Mugabe regime" then before election time?????????.
Now that the dust seems to have settled and there is a coalition government,it is making noise and it wants its share of the national cake.
I propose the Government continues to pursue the cancellation of their concessions as they have already alluded to.
The best they can do for them is to give them the 1% which was being targeted by the NGO's at the Tel Aviv conf once and for all as a token.No partnership with people who were holding on to our resources silently and with sabotage in mind then.
Proudly Zimbabwean
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written by Citizen, July 26, 2010
written by Citizen, July 26, 2010
All alond ACR new about the vast potential Zimbabwe had tolift itself from economic quadmare through the diamonds in Marange. Now the people of Zimbabwe has made their on discovery, a discovery it wanted kept secret for it's own benefit, the company is crying fowl. l APPEAL TO THE MINISTER OF MINES TO COME UP WITH LEGISLATION WHICH WILL ENSURE THAT VANA VEVHU BENEFIT IMMERSELLY FROM THE PROCEEDS FROM ALL THE MINES IN ZIMBABWE, AFTER IT'S US WHO MAKE OUR LAW. PROSIBLE PROFIT SHARING RATIO IS SUCH THAT:
ZIM: PARTNER=4:1. NGUVA YEKUPAMBA PFUMA YAKAPFUURA.
ZIM: PARTNER=4:1. NGUVA YEKUPAMBA PFUMA YAKAPFUURA.
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