Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Zvamaida Murwira
13 July 2009
Harare — Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa has said the reconstruction of Shabani Mashava Mine is on course and Government is happy with the manner in which things have progressed so far.
His comments come after revelations that the former owner, Mr Mutumwa Mawere has been in discussions with senior Government officials to return to Zimbabwe from South Africa where he is based.
Mawere aapparently wants to reclaim ownership of the mine.
In a statement last Friday, Minister Chinamasa said SMM's Government-appointed administrator Mr Afaras Gwaradzimba had submitted periodic reports to Government showing that the company was on the recovery path.
"As the responsible minister, I am satisfied with the reconstruction work carried out to date.
"The reconstruction of SMM is still in progress and will continue until the company is fully reconstructed.
"During the reconstruction of the company, all issues relating to the company must be dealt with only by the appointed administrator whose responsibility, in terms of the Reconstruction and State Indebted Insolvency Companies Act is to report to the Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs."
The minister's comments come after private media reports questioned the delay in the conclusion of the reconstruction exercise.
The reports also attacked Mr Gwaradzimba's integrity, accusing him of dragging his feet so as to continue drawing fees from the mining concern in his capacity as administrator.
Mr Mawere fled to South Africa in 2004 after the State specified him for allegedly externalising US$18 million in SMM asbestos export proceeds, after which the Government appointed Mr Gwaradzimba to rehabilitate the company.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has since then issued an advisory report, saying its own investigations had not revealed any offences on Mr Mawere's part.
In an interview on Friday, Mr Gwaradzimba said senior Government officials had conducted informal discussions with Mr Mawere on his case.
He said, however, it was in his view "too early" to return Mr Mawere's assets to him.
He said discussions were still continuing on how best to deal with the issue.
The Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara told The Herald yesterday he appreciated the administrator's efforts to revive SMM. But he expressed his desire for fugitive businesspersons, such as Mr Mawere and bankers Dr Mthuli Ncube, Mr Julius Makoni and Mr William Nyemba, among others, to return home.
"As a country we are rehabilitating our reputation, and as part of the process we will rehabilitate people who left the country either for good or bad reasons and they include Mawere, Nyemba, Ncube and Makoni," DPM Mutambara said.
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