President Robert Mugabe is reportedly suing Zimplats for objecting to the government’s intended compulsory acquisition of 28 000 hectares of mining land in Kadoma, held by Zimplats Holdings Limited.
According to The Herald, Mugabe reportedly filed an application at the Administrative Court seeking confirmation of the compulsory acquisition of the underutilised mining land.
The land, which is held by Zimplats under a special mining lease, has been lying idle for years and government intends to acquire and reallocate it to prospective miners who are keen on extracting platinum for the country’s economic growth.
The President, in his official capacity, seeks to acquire the land in terms of Section 7(1) of the Land Acquisition Act (Chapter 20:10) as read with Section 398(1) of the Mines and Minerals Act.
The Civil Division of the Attorney- General’s office filed the application on behalf of the President. A notice to acquire the land was published in the Government Gazette of April 26 2013 and Zimplats was served with the notice.
The mining company objected to the compulsory acquisition on May 7 the same year, in terms of Section 5 (i) (a) (iii) (a) of the land Acquisition Act.
The Minister of Mines engaged Zimplats for a roundtable meeting but they reached a deadlock, prompting the President to approach the court. In the recent application for authority to acquire the land, filed under Administrative Court number LA13/16, the President said he has the power to compulsorily acquire the land from Zimplats despite the existence of a lease agreement.
Mugabe is reported to have resorted to the courts after the minister of mines engaged Zimplats for a roundtable meeting but failed to reach an agreement.
Sources: News24, Â allAfrica, Herald
