Gumbo defends granting of duty-free status on fuel imports for Dema Electricity Project, Kariba South Extension & Africa Chrome Fields

Appearing before the Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy, Transport Minister Joram Gumbo defended the granting of duty-free status on fuel imports for the Dema Electricity Project, Kariba South Extension and Africa Chrome Fields saying that the three ceased to be private projects since government is a partner.

Gumbo also said that the decision to grant Africa Chrome duty-free status on fuel imports had  boosted chrome output by 320 percent from February 2016 to February 2017. He stated that Statutory Instrument 184 of 2014 provides for duty free importation of fuel by CMED. When asked on the legality of the issuance of the certificates, Gumbo said his secretary has since written to Treasury highlighting the possibility of legal gaps with respect to statutory instrument and also requested Treasury, in liaison with Attorney General’s office, to close such gaps.