09 Jul 2015

Minerals are protected through existing statutes such as Diamond Cutting Act, Precious and Semi-Precious Stones Protection Act for Diamonds and Unwrought Precious Metals for precious metals, says Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Mr Nonofho Molefhi.As for the other minerals, Mr Molefhi said the provision of Mines and Minerals Act was sufficient.

Answering a question in Parliament, he said any violations of the above legislations were dealt with in accordance with the provisions of each Act. 

He said mines in Botswana did not recycle waste material not useful in their operations, as it was not their core business, but engaged external companies to remove such waste from their mining operations.

He said regulations governing activities relating to recycling of waste products irrespective of the source, falls outside the mandate of the ministry. 

Jwaneng/Mabutsane MP, Mr Shawn Nthaile had asked the minister to provide a list of companies and directors responsible for recycling and to give a breakdown of which materials were used.Mr Nthaile also asked whether export regulations were being complied with and the number of Botswana young people operating recycling facilities or employed by such companies. In addition, he asked what steps were being taken to ensure that such operations do not turn into illegal activities of protected products and minerals. ENDS