eBusiness Weekly
Sukoluhle Ndlovu and Michael Magoronga
MIDLANDS – Government has urged small-sale miners to register their operations to enable planning and coordination so that they have full access to resources and services that will effectively boost their operations.
In a speech read on his behalf by the director of value addition and beneficiation in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development Engineer Mercy Manyuchi during the launch of a gold milling centre courtesy of a public private partnership between Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) and Pablo’s Investments, Minister Winston Chitando said more than one million miners are currently not registered.
“According to statistics, over 1,5 million people are engaged in artisanal mining activities yet only an estimated 25 000 are registered. The remainder is encouraged to register and be known to enable planning and coordination so that they can access resources and services from Government to boost output for the nation as a whole to benefit from the precious mineral,” he said.
Minister Chitando implored small-scale miners to follow documented mining procedures for their health and safety.
“Small-scale miners are encouraged to uphold mining regulations and adhere to set out basic mining standards for their health and safety at their workplace as well as protecting the environment for the benefit of future generations,” he said.
He said the partnership is a positive step towards increasing gold production by small scale miners.
“This is a step in the right direction towards achieving our set target of 40 tonnes of gold per year. Up to date only 8,6 tonnes has been delivered and we hope this initiative will help us achieve our target on time. Of late, our miners have been failing to meet their target due shortage of machinery.”
He said Government was making frantic efforts to set up two gold milling plants in Kwekwe and Silobela.
“The Government is in the process of setting up similar service centre and plans are underway for the establishment of other centres in Midlands province mainly Kwekwe and Silobela areas. More such centre will be rolled out country wide and not limited to the above mentioned areas,” he said.
Minister Chitando applauded ZMF for heeding President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s call of making Zimbabwe a middle income economy by 2030.
“ZMF is applauded for its contribution of heeding President’s call of middle class economy by 3020. The organisation has proved its potential by moving a step further in line with the Government thrust of pushing precious metals volume in the implementation of this project. This project should spread wings to other areas and boost national deliveries as well as empowering small-scale miners,” he said.
