Formalisation necessary to reduce challenges of illegal mining and smuggling
Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) Deputy Director and Kimberley Process Civil Society Coordinator Mr. Shamiso Mtisi referring to South Africa’s draft artisanal and small-scale Mining Policy said formalization might be the solution in reducing challenges of illegal mining, trade, and export of gold in Zimbabwe.
Sophia Takuva
The ZELA Deputy Director said the introduction of digital technology through the government’s promised cadastre system in mining claims and concessions was also of importance in curbing conflicts in the mining industry in Zimbabwe.
“On the challenges of illegal mining, trade, and export of gold, formalization of Artisanal mining might be the solution. Introduction of BlockChain technology in ASM and Large-Scale sector might also help to curb conflicts and criminality,” Mtisi said.
Mtisi said Zimbabwe should take a leaf from South Africa’s draft policy on artisanal and small-scale mining which thrives to regulate and formalise the operations of artisanal mining through recommending permits for artisanal miners, defines artisanal mining as separate from small scale mining, and designate areas for artisans.
The permits would allow the government to regulate artisanal miners’ operations as well as allowing the government to tax them.
“South Africa just circulated a draft Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Policy which recommends a permit, reserving permits to citizens, defines artisanal mining as separate from small scale mining, designate areas for artisans, payment of taxes and reporting,” he said.
The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) an umbrella body that represents small-scale and artisanal miners in Zimbabwe has been calling on the government to expedite the formalization and regularisation of the small-scale miners’ operations to curb smuggling and increase revenue to the fiscus.
ZMF urges Small scale and artisanal miners to embrace and prioritize the development and growth of the communities they are operating in as a way of giving back to the community.