By A Correspondent

In a stern warning, the Zimbabwean government has threatened to jail mining “defaulters” who fail to remit royalties on time.

Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana announced that individuals responsible for paying mining royalties, but fail to do so without a valid reason, face up to six months in prison, as stipulated in the recently enacted Finance Act.

According to Mangwana, “PERSONS responsible for remitting mining royalties to the Government, but failing to do so timeously without just cause face up to six months in prison.”

The Finance Act requires that royalties be remitted in the form of the mineral concerned, as well as part local currency and foreign currency.

The Act further states that if an individual continues to default on royalty payments after a period of 181 days, they shall be guilty of an offense and liable to a fine not exceeding level 10 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or both.

This move is seen as a desperate attempt by the Zanu PF administration to clamp down on mining defaulters and boost revenue.