Zimbabwe is considering regulations that would require all operating mines to affiliate with the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, with membership of the Association of Mine Managers of Zimbabwe (AMMZ) becoming a condition for the mine managers overseeing their operations, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development Engineer Fred Moyo revealed the proposal at the AMMZ 54th Annual Conference and AGM in Nyanga, saying the Government was working with the Chamber of Mines to strengthen accountability and professional standards across the mining industry.
Eng Moyo said the proposed arrangement would establish a direct accountability link between mining companies, their managers and the industry’s professional associations.
“There is one missing point in that mandate, which is also affecting you. It must now have a line that says you will not run a mine in this country if you are not a member of the Chamber of Mines,” he said.
“The Chamber must then turn around and say you will not be a member of the Chamber of Mines if your mine manager is not a member of the Mine Managers Association. Then we will hold everybody accountable.”
The proposal comes against a significant membership gap within the professional association, with Eng Moyo estimating that Zimbabwe has close to 500 mines, compared with approximately 120 AMMZ members.
He said the disparity meant a substantial proportion of mine managers operating in the country were outside the association’s membership structures, limiting the reach of professional representation and accountability.
“If we have close to 500 mines, and each mine is run by a mine manager, and we have 120 members, in fact, the majority of mine managers are not part of this association,” he said.
Eng Moyo said mine managers occupied a central position in determining the performance of mining operations, arguing that while industry bodies such as the Chamber of Mines focused on policy, the actual execution of mining activities rested with mine managers.
“The Chamber only deals with policy. The real mining entity execution, the success of our mining sector, is nowhere else except in the office of the mine manager,” he said.
He urged AMMZ to recognise its responsibility beyond representing its existing membership, saying the association should contribute to improving standards across the wider mining industry, including the artisanal and small-scale mining sector.
The Deputy Minister challenged the association to avoid limiting its interventions to the interests of registered members, arguing that its professional expertise should benefit the entire industry.
His remarks come as Zimbabwe continues to expand mining activity, with the growth of artisanal and small-scale operations placing additional pressure on the sector to improve safety, technical competence and operational standards.
Eng Moyo also urged mine managers to take greater responsibility for the industry’s performance and reputation, saying their influence extended beyond individual operations to the overall success of the mining sector.
He cited the historical role of the Safety and Prevention of Accident Committee (SPAC), which he said was previously one of the strongest structures under the Chamber of Mines, with its chairman serving as an ex-officio member of the AMMZ council.
The Deputy Minister’s proposal, if translated into regulations, would represent a significant change in how mining companies and mine managers relate to the industry’s representative and professional bodies.
However, the proposal’s implementation would depend on the regulatory framework the Government intends to introduce and the arrangements agreed with the relevant industry associations.
