Zimpapers Logo

Sharon Chiware, Midlands Reporter
GWERU-based steel maker, Midlands Metals, has struck a deal with the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) and local banks to secure mining equipment for small scale miners on concessionary terms.

Under the arrangement ZMF will compile a register of small scale miners who have a track record of delivering gold to Fidelity Printers and Refiners (FPR) while the financial institutions namely ZB Bank, CBZ, Met Bank and Steward Bank would provide the funding for the purchase of the equipment.

The company launched its hammer mills last week in Gweru where it announced terms to access the equipment.

Mr Tatenda Karimazondo, the company’s operations director, told Business Chronicle that under the arrangement his company will avail hammer mills and other equipment to miners with a track record of gold deliveries to FPR so that they can boost their output.

“We are trying to partner with all these institutions to say if we give equipment to small scale miners then they have to be responsible for those loans just like any other business,” he said.

“So ZMF is coming on board to ensure that the formalisation is there and that their small scale miners’ papers are in place and they have security in terms of their claims, which would be used as collateral.”

Mr Karimazondo said financial institutions would provide the financing while the Zimbabwe School of Mines will provide the technical expertise in as far as exploration of the claims is concerned.

He said the hammer mills, which they are availing to the small scale miners, have the capacity to mill a tonne of gold ore per hour and added that plans are underway to come up with another mill capable of processing four tonnes of ore per hour.

ZMF president Mrs Appolonia Munzverengwi welcomed the partnership, which she said would go a long way in empowering the small scale miners and would translate to an increase in gold production.

“We welcome such partnerships, which ensure that our small scale miners are equipped to increase productivity. If we have more partnership we can easily surpass our gold targets,” she said.

The partnership comes at a time ZMF has cited lack of relevant equipment and technology as a major barrier in the gold sector. According to statistics from ZMF there are over 15 000 small scale miners who are using about 85 stamp and hammer mills countrywide to process gold.

The same mills are also used by artisanal miners who are around 300 000 according to statistics.

The Government has set a target of 10 tonnes for gold deliveries for small scale and artisanal miners this year.

@sharonchiware1