RIO Tinto's Rössing Uranium mine was recently recognised as a frontrunner in mining environmental management.

THE government has entered the fray in the acrimonious battle between junior miner Simmer & Jack and its black economic empowerment partner, Vulisango, and will probe claims that Vulisango may have been used as a front to obtain mining rights.

SMALL-scale gold miners have been called upon to adopt more cost-effective mining methods to yield maximum benefits from their operations so as to stop relying on Government handouts, Zimbabwe Miners Federation President Mr Trynos Nkomo has said.

THE country's sole phosphate miner, Dorowa Minerals Limited, requires more than US$1 million for recapitalisation to increase its production capacity.

THE government last week lost its three year old battle to wrestle control of the Marange diamond fields from the British registered African Consolidated Resources (ACR) Plc in a landmark High Court ruling.

Botswana Stock Exchange-listed A-Cap Resources is moving closer to its dream of becoming Botswana's first-ever uranium producer after announcing encouraging drilling results at its Letlhakane Uranium Project.

The opening of the ABN AMRO Bank in Botswana on Thursday signalled the country's ambitious intentions to rival Dubai and Antwerp as a world diamond centre.

Nestled between previously unknown mining districts Maun and Ghanzi, which are popular for cattle ranching and tourism, lies two major copper mines which between them have prospecting licences covering close to 15 000 square km. Mmegi Staff Writer WANETSHA MOSINYI

COAL mining group Coal of Africa confirmed on Friday that its talks for a public-private partnership with Transnet Freight Rail to boost future export capacity were still in progress.

DIVERSIFIED South African miner African Rainbow Minerals plans to invest in coal and platinum group metal projects in Zimbabwe.

THE recent mining indaba presented the Government with a platform to interact with business with a view to enable investors to provide input in the formulation of the mining legal framework, spokesperson for the Mining Indaba 2009, Mr Washington Mehlomakulu

SMALL Scale Miners have called on Government to expedite the approval of exclusive prospecting orders and special grants to encourage foreign direct investment in the mining industry.

PARLIAMENT has given the Government a go-ahead to borrow over sh10b from the International Development Association (IDA), to finance a mineral project.

A report on the marginalization of Botswana's San people by a faith-based organization that monitors corporate responsibility has ignited a war of words with the government and diamond companies operating in the country.

Rising unemployment following the closure of diamond and gold mines in southwestern Central African Republic (CAR), due to the global financial crisis, has left many families in increasing poverty and triggered a nutrition crisis, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said.

Three Shabanie mine workers were shot and injured by riot police in Zvishavane on Friday, during a peaceful demonstration over a salary and ownership dispute with management.

Canadian resource giant, New Dawn Mining, came out in full support of the inclusive government's policies last week, saying the coalition has made Zimbabwe ripe for fresh investments.

MINING companies will in future have to provide financial guarantees for the rehabilitation of mining sites once all mining activities have ended, while closure plans will have to be part of environmental impact assessments (EIA) in new projects.

Small-scale miners have been urged to improve management of their firms and begin contributing to Zambia's gross domestic product (GDP).