• Zambia and Zimbabwe operate a company that has interest in mining rights on a piece of land that was bequeathed to Rhodesia.
• The two sister countries felt it is important that going forward South Africa being the place where these Mineral rights and property are situated
• We should continue to work together as brothers until we find a lasting solution.
Transport and Logistics Minister says Zambia and Zimbabwe have held talks in preparation for the tripartite meeting of the emerged railways properties limited council of ministers.
Speaking in Livingstone, Frank Tayali noted there had been challenges to convene the Cabinet board due to un-availability of South Africa to come on board however stating that he is confident a joint ministerial statement that will be adopted by the three governments through which various steps will be outlined for solving challenges confronting the states on the matter will be done expressing confidence based on measures of good will showed.
He said in an event that the meeting envisaged for the 28th of May 2022 does not take place or South African colleagues opt out, Zambia and Zimbabwe would have no option but to escalate the matter to respective heads of state so that they can intervene to prevent the two countries from losing out on the mineral rights that belong to Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Speaking after the meeting, Frank Tayali explained to the Press that Zambia and Zimbabwe operate a company called Emerged Railways Properties Limited that has interest in mining rights on a piece of land that was bequeathed to Rhodesia at the time and subsequently Zambia and Zimbabwe.
“The two sister countries felt it is important that going forward South Africa being the place where these Mineral rights and property are situated that we bring in south Africa to complete the circuit,” he said.
The Minister indicated that there have been challenges that have inhibited progress being made in terms of actualizing benefits to mineral rights in South Africa.
And Zimbabwean Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Felix Mhona says the two countries must strike a good balance between the need to engage South Africa and continue to place for a brilliant investment plan for the public which should be supported by long term time bound implementation measures to render monitoring and evaluation of the targets very easy with review to make good obligations flowing with the MOU signed with South African counterpart.
“Notwithstanding the complexities of unlocking value from the vast mineral resources and interest we should continue to work together as brothers until we find a lasting solution to any attended challenges,” he emphasized.
