Stephen T Chifamba
Better Brands Jewellery (BBJ) has dismissed a Centre for Natural Resources Governance (CNRG) report which concluded that they are at the centre of massive gold leakages in the country saying they are actually the biggest supplier of the yellow metal to Fidelity Printers among the small scale producers.
The 35-page report released last Wednesday titled Zimbabwe’s Disappearing Gold: The Case of Mazowe and Penhalonga, CRNG alleges that the artisanal mining sector has been captured and that BBJ is at the Centre of gold leaks benefitting Zanu PF and not government.
In a statement released by BBJ, the company says actually they have already delivered nine tonnes of gold to Fidelity this year alone compared to 8,5 tonnes delivered the whole of last year.
BBJ is owned by businessman Scott Sakupwanya who is also a Zanu PF Councillor for Ward 21 in Mabvuku.
“We are shocked by a report released last week by the NGO and we are really concerned about the falsehoods contained in the document which was quoted by several media outlets. What is of particular concern is the allegation that Better Brands is responsible for gold leakages. Actually Better Brands is doing well to ensure that we reduce gold smuggling outside Zimbabwe.
“We have so far delivered 9 tonnes of gold to Fidelity and it defies logic why someone would question us for that. This has never happened in the country and this year we aim to double what we delivered last year,” reads part of the statement.
BBJ also dismissed as false allegations in the report that they are raising through illicit gold sales to fund Zanu PF ahead of elections next year.
BBJ said there is a difference between BBJ and the owner. “Mr Sakupwanya is the majority shareholder in BBJ and his political affiliation has nothing to do with the company’s operations. Yes he is a Zanu PF councillor but we do things above board and trade with Fidelity,” reads part of the statement.
Better Brands urged government to regulate the thousands of small scale miners who operate unregulated hammer mills as they produce unaccounted for gold which they then sell to unscrupulous traders who in turn smuggle the gold to mainly South Africa.
“Authorities need to close the loopholes on the thousands of people who have small milling milling machines called hammer mills. We are not monopolising the gold industry as alleged. BBJ actually has branches across the country and we are offering good prices for buying the gold. Everyone is free to either sell to us or they can go straight to Fidelity.
“Our detractors will always try to find fault in the business we do. Everything we do is above board and we are open to scrutiny. The Fidelity offers incentives ito boost production for everyone. We are playing our part in growing the small scale miners hence they now produce more.
“Small scale miners are now delivering more gold to Fidelity than big established mines. It’s because we are paying very good prices to the miners across the country. We urge gold industry players to work together to boost production,” said Better Brands.
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