Source: Government targets formalisation of artisanal mining ……as 300 artisanal miners graduate – herald
Walter Nyamukondiwa in CHEGUTU
Government, working with key stakeholders in the mining sector, has taken bold steps to formalise the artisanal mining sector through the deployment of mining extension workers and mobile training initiatives.
Speaking at the graduation of 300 artisanal miners, Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura said the Government would soon roll out mining extension workers to mirror the work of agriculture extension workers to increase production, accountability and safety.
“The artisanal and small-scale mining sector is no longer a peripheral activity in our economy as it consistently delivers more 60 percent of gold to Fidelity Fold Refineries,” said Minister Kambamura.
“Very soon, my ministry is coming up with an extended structure mirroring extension workers in agriculture.
“We are going to come up with mining development officers who will be positioned in each mining district to monitor and share expertise on mining.”
The development officers, he said, would help educate miners on mining standards, mineral accountability and other technical issues.
The interventions, said Minister Kambamura, would entrench responsible mining and help grow the mining sector towards a US$12 billion sector.
The graduating cohort, said Minister Kambamura, was a pioneering group in the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining in the country.
Minister Kambamura said training in the mining sector should start from the grassroots.
“This programme is a blueprint for mobile mining schools with training delivered directly to mining hubs across the provinces,” said Dr Kambamura.
“My Ministry, working together with the Zimbabwe School of Mines and willing private partners, will roll out this model nationally.”
He said mining companies had joined hands with the Government to help formalise the operations of artisanal and small-scale miners.
Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Marian Chombo said the province had helped pioneer the formalisation of artisanal miners through the arrangement with Magaya Mining, Zimbabwe School of Mining and the Mutapa Gold Resources.
“We are happy that a project we started as Mashonaland West province with Magaya Mining to help formalise the operations of artisanal miners has made such an impact and will be replicated in other provinces and districts,” she said.
Mutapa Gold Resources chief executive officer Engineer Patrick Shayawabaya said formalisation of artisanal mining would ensure they operate safely and profitably.
“Gone are the days when we used to have drones just to spot where the artisanal miners are working to chase them away. We now see them as partners,” said Eng Shayawabaya.
“It is in that regard that Mutapa Gold Resources is in the process of replicating the Elvington Artisanal mining model at Jena Mines in the Midlands as well as at Phoenix Prince in Bindura.”
He said more training should be extended to miners.
Zimbabwe School of Mines principal Mr Edwin Gwaze said the training programme was important in enhancing the understanding of mining among artisanal miners and helping promote safety.
“We have seen in the past a lot of accidents happening in the mining sector. This programme touched on safety and how people can mine without damaging the environment,” he said.
“We were training them on the technical aspects that can increase productivity and also give them an understanding of how they can run their operations like a business.”
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