The Young Miners Foundation (YMF), a pivotal force in Zimbabwe’s small-scale mining sector, is marking its 15th anniversary by highlighting a surge in technical training and formalisation efforts, with over 500 miners skilled in chrome and coal operations this year alone, Director Darel Mubu announced.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Speaking at the foundation’s anniversary event, Mubu framed the milestone as a testament to “resilience—the spirit of never giving up,” underscoring a strategic shift from advocacy to hands-on capacity building. The foundation’s core mission, he stated, is to convert informal artisanal miners into recognised, technically proficient professionals.
Key Points:
- YMF has trained over 500 miners in 2025 across the chrome and coal mining disciplines.
- The foundation’s formalisation drive is leading to the registration of new mining companies, with four slated for incorporation in the coming weeks.
- A partnership with the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) is providing critical support for skills deployment.
- Over 20 dedicated small-scale mining training sessions have been conducted since 2018.
“The formalisation that has been put in place to equip young miners who never knew that I could be getting a certificate today… I could be a technical person today. We all have that to celebrate,” Mubu told attendees. He emphasised that without such intervention and “financial intelligence,” young miners risked remaining “just a story in a book.”
The training addresses acute industry challenges, including safety hazards arising from inadequate mechanisation. “There are people that have got scars to prove that,” Mubu said, linking the skills transfer directly to reducing operational dangers and improving productivity.
Zimbabwe’s mining sector, a critical foreign currency earner, relies heavily on small-scale and artisanal miners, particularly in gold and chrome. However, informality, lack of capital, and technical gaps have historically limited their efficiency, safety, and profitability. YMF’s intervention targets these constraints directly.
The foundation’s model extends beyond pure technical skills. It incorporates business management, soft skills development in partnership with Junior Chamber International (JCI), and lobbying for favourable policies. This holistic approach aims to create sustainable mining enterprises that contribute to national economic goals.
“We are articulating a journey of resilience,” Mubu stated. “Utilising our resources for the economic benefit of this country.”
Acknowledging that the journey cannot be walked alone, Mubu highlighted partnerships as a key accelerant. The collaboration with MMCZ, a state-owned mineral marketing entity, provides a channel for trained miners to integrate into the formal market.
The focus now, Mubu stressed, is on execution. The foundation is leveraging its 15 years of experience to ensure skills translate into tangible businesses and community development.
“It is to leave an imprint, a footprint, that you are going to walk to your destination, to your provinces, to your communities,” he said.
The anniversary event culminated in a toast to the foundation’s legacy and future, signalling a continued push to transform Zimbabwe’s mining landscape from the ground up.
About Young Miners Foundation:
The Young Miners Foundation is a Zimbabwe-based organisation dedicated to empowering, training, and formalising the operations of young and small-scale miners across the country.
