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Nqobile Bhebhe, [email protected]

Zimbabwe, a land rich in geological treasures, boasts an impressive array of mineral resources ranging from gold, platinum, chrome, nickel, coal, other valuable elements, and more recently- lithium.

Among these, lithium has gained significant attention due to its use in electric car batteries and other technological applications and has become a star player in the world of technology.

The country is believed to be hosting Africa’s largest lithium deposits and with the fifth world’s biggest deposits is positioning for an economic boom from the global drive towards a shift to battery-powered machines.

Locally, the lithium sector is dominated by big hitters such as the recently commissioned multi-million dollar  Kamativi Mining Company (KMC), Bikita Minerals, Gwanda Lithium Mine Zimbabwe at Mandihongola area in Gwanda South and  Premier African Minerals among others.

Artisanal miners who play a crucial role in exploring and extracting resources are now involved in lithium extraction, however, they face a dilemma when they stumble upon minerals beyond their licensed scope.

Artisanal miners may hold licenses for specific minerals such as gold, but recently a majority of them in most parts of the country unintentionally discover other valuable resources such as lithium, beryl, chrome, and quarry during their operations.

Some miners choose to ignore these discoveries, fearing legal repercussions.

Others attempt to obtain additional licenses or seek partnerships with larger mining companies to explore and exploit these newfound resources.

These operational challenges were highlighted during a recent week-long 7th ASA academy in Bulawayo held under the theme “Making Just Transition Inclusive for All: Empowering ASM to actively participate in the lithium value chain”.

The academy gathered artisanal miners for various provinces.

The objectives of the academy were to raise awareness on the legal frameworks that govern the lithium mining and ASM sector in Zimbabwe and global trends and to have an understanding of the state of ASM lithium mining in Zimbabwe.

Mrs Loveness  Jacob, a miner from Murewa said she is licensed to mine quartz but has frequently encountered other high-value mineral deposits.

Quartz is utilized in numerous applications, including jewelry, hardstone carvings, and industrial uses such as glass making and as an abrasive.

“During mining activities, we saw samples that denoted the presence of lithium, beryl and various minerals we had no idea what they were. We initially threw away some of them,” she told Business Chronicle.

“That confessed us and we decided to engage a geologist to give us expert advice. One sample was for silica which was found to be 83 percent, beryl tested eight percent and petalite.

“There are Indian investors who also took samples for testing and they are due to return soon with the results. We were told by Mines and Mining Development officials that we should seek assistance when we encounter such issues. The original licence will be expanded to include other minerals we encounter.”

She noted that the ASA Academy was an eye-opener for her as it broadened her knowledge on mining legislation.

Ms Linia Matsika from Mashonaland West also said she has stumbled on lithium deposits.

“I am also licensed to mine gold but when I engaged a qualified surveyor, he said there are lithium deposits within my claim. The academy has assisted me in knowing various mining stages and what to do when we encounter other minerals outside of my official licence.”

Mrs Sibongile  Ndlovu, Insiza Women In Mining chairlady said she is part of a consortium of about 76 women stressing the need for easy access to geological information.

Their license is for gold but recently they have encountered more quarry on their claims.

“Recently we discovered that there is more quarry within our claims. We are yet to inquire from the local Mines and Mining development office if we could mine quarry and how we can obtain official paperwork,” she said.

“We are eager to also mine quarry because Filabusi is fast growing in terms of infrastructure development. Quarry is used a lot in construction so we think production can be high.

“We are a group of 76 women down from the original 102 and we started in 2019. We appeal for Government intervention and intensify assistance for women in mining. We need heavy-duty equipment such as compressors and excavators.

Turning to the Academy, what impressed her the most was the need to employ qualified surveyors and geologists to give them proper mining advice.

“Most of us are randomly operating, guessing which areas might be having gold. However, with the high costs associated with engaging geologists, we are appealing to the Government to freely offer the services of their geologists.

“We feel as women miners we have a role to play in increasing mining revenues. We sell our gold to Fidelity Printers and Refineries. We employ locals and as part of community development, we drill boreholes.”

Other artisanal miners urged authorities to consider reviewing and updating licensing policies to accommodate the diverse mineral potential.

They noted that flexibility in licensing could encourage responsible exploration and utilization of various minerals adding that the need for a more adaptive and inclusive approach to mining licensing allows miners to harness the full potential of Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth while adhering to legal requirements.

Coordinator of Africa Institute of Environmental Law (AIEL), a ZELA research arm, Mr Farai Mutondoro noted that mining remains the key anchor of the country’s economy with the mixed gradient of artisanal small-scale mining companies.

He underscored the need for women to work as consortiums as it gives them some leverage and allows them to deter risks that come with mining.

“Within the ASM sector we see huge participation of women trying to derive value from extraction, especially in the gold, chrome sector and other minerals. But the first thing for women miners to extract value is to consider working as consortiums so that it becomes easy for them to seek financing from banks.

“So with lithium, I think there are opportunities for women to participate and the first thing that we applaud is that the legislation by the government regulating the extraction of base minerals provides for artisanal small-scale miners to be licensed.

“But their participation is through market interlinkages, they extract, then they have to sell to companies with the capacity to process. The law says that no one can export unprocessed lithium from Zimbabwe. So they have a provision for them to participate. But the first thing again remains to access mining licenses around lithium.

“And again, I argue that it is very, very important for women to consider mining as cooperatives for them to drive value from lithium.”

Given the intricate dance between legality, opportunity, and livelihoods, Zimbabwe’s mineral-rich landscape continues to shape the lives of those who explore and exploit its hidden treasures.