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Nqobile Bhebhe, [email protected]

Artisanal and small-scale miners have said the ongoing countrywide training and awareness programmes and handing out of equipment to the sector are set to boost its working space safety and productivity.

Artisanal and small-scale miners contribute about 60 percent of the country’s gold output, as gold is one of Zimbabwe’s largest foreign currency earners.

The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development is rolling out awareness campaigns that will also cover issues to do with formalisation of mining operations, with focus on unregistered miners who are expected to formally register their mines.

Further to that miners are being encouraged to join associations of their choice for purposes of networking and knowledge sharing, the ministry said.

“In addition to capacitation for small-scale miners, very soon, equipment will be availed through the Mining Industry Loan Fund in the various Provincial Mines Workshops,” reads part of the statement.

According to the schedule, in Matabeleland North, training programmes are earmarked for February 26 to March 1 in Inyathi, Bubi and Bloemfontein.

In Matabeleland South, the awareness programme ends today and areas covered include Filabusi, Esigodini, Matopo, Maphisa, Umzingwane, Shangani, Mangwe and Gwanda.

In the Midlands Province, the programme will be rolled out in Shurugwi, Mberengwa, Kwekwe, Zvishavane, Silobela, Zhombe and Gokwe from February 19 to 23.

Commenting on the training programme, Young Miners Foundation chief executive officer Mr Payne Kupfuwa said the development is a massive boost to the sector as efficiency would be enhanced.

“As the young miners, we are grateful for this useful programme since we are at the receiving end of the unfortunate accidents that happen at mines. We are the most economically active in mining and therefore the most affected by the lack of knowledge of proper mining methods and risks of irresponsible mining.

“We are the true beneficiaries of these training and awareness programmes more than anyone else. The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has shown a great will to formalise and professionalise small-scale mining and this exercise will truly re-write and re-define the small-scale mining narrative,” said Mr Kupfuwa.

He added, “We are elated and grateful for this initiative and we are encouraging all young miners to participate at the training because it will go a long way in formalising and professionalising the industry which will see the industry grow.

“In the same vein, the rolling out of drilling equipment, mining consumables and de-watering equipment will bolster efficiency gains at our mining projects which will see the attainment of the US$40 billion mining economy by 2030 a reality since and the Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) targets being met.

“These initiatives surely dovetail the attainment of a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income economy by 2030.”
Latest statistics from the country’s exclusive buyer of the metal, FGR, indicate that of the 30,1 tonnes delivered last year, small-scale miners who traditionally produce the bulk of the gold, again last year maintained the momentum producing 18,7 tonnes.

In 2023, primary producers who are the large-scale miners delivered 11,4 tonnes.

The Government has set a new US$40 billion by 2030 target for the mining sector and this comes as the industry recorded US$20,5 billion in exports over the past five years.