Zimbabwe's platinum mining industry is in further trouble as a result of manpower problems and the worsening political and economic climate according to reports from Standard Business.

Industry experts claim that large swathes of the sector's human resource skills' base have been steadily leaving the country as the economy continues to collapse.

When placed in conjunction with an inflation rate climbing to more than 300 per cent, widespread shortages of hard currency and spares, and an unstable domestic picture the prospects for the industry are said to be poor.

Zimbabwe Platinum Mines' chief executive officer Roy Pitchford says the lure of better pay overseas and in neighbouring countries has had a marked impact.

'There is a shortage of these skills world-wide and Zimbabwe is losing these skills as the economic and earning capacity for professional people continues to decline,' he commented.

'We have lost qualified personnel. People are leaving to all over the world. They are leaving because of their professionalism and experience which attract higher wages elsewhere.'

Mr Pitchford said that while Zimbabwe had the potential to become a significant producer and supplier of platinum group metals (pgm) if the investment climate was deemed safe, recent events had made that prospect look unlikely.

'The respect for the rule of law, property and human rights are essential. Foreign investors witnessing the process of land acquisition in the past four years do not see why the same process will not apply to mining investments,' Pitchford said

Only last week Chamber of Mines president Abel Ntini warned that Zimbabwe was not doing enough to ensure that it maximises the potential of its abundant natural pgm resources.