The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) Mashonaland West province has called on the government to establish a mines office in Kadoma, abolish ground verification of coordinates, and create field officers to ensure the growth and development of the mining industry.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Speaking at a stakeholders engagement meeting between the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, the Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mashonaland West, and the ZMF alongside other government parastatals, ZMF Mashonaland West Treasurer Johane Sithole emphasized the need for the government to address the challenges faced by small-scale miners and to educate them to promote sustainable mining.
According to Sithole addressing these challenges can lead to the growth of the mining sector, contributing to the country’s overall development. He said the government and stakeholders should work towards creating an enabling environment for small-scale miners to thrive and achieve Vision 2030.
“As you know as small-scale miners, we are flourishing and delivering more gold to Fidelity than the big mines. We produce and deliver 60% of the gold, while the big mines produce 40%. The artisanal and small-scale mining industry is growing in Zimbabwe and supports over 1.5 million Zimbabweans. However, we face some challenges in the industry, which I will present,” Sithole stated.
He said the Ministry of Mines should establish the Kadoma office which will convenience nearby miners who are having to travel over 250km to the Chinhoyi Mines office.
“The establishment of a Kadoma office is our first challenge. We request the establishment of this office since a significant number of miners are in and around Kadoma. This will facilitate easier business operations as people will not have to travel long distances for applications or inspections in Chinhoyi, which is far. It will also reduce costs on the government’s side, as miners and officials will not have to travel from Chinhoyi to distant places like Sanyati for disputes or other issues. This will enable easier access to information as enshrined in our constitution,” Sithole explained.
He also highlighted the biggest challenge ASM miners face, access to capital
“Secondly, small-scale miners face significant challenges in acquiring machinery and equipment due to the high costs. Miners must juggle daily operations, government fees, charges, family responsibilities, and equipment expenses, leaving them with no option but to work within their means. This results in missed targets and lower daily production. We appeal to the government to provide funds to maximize production,” Sithole urged.
Sithole emphasized the need for government to introduce Mining Field Officers which will help with adherence to best mining practices.
“We also need mining field officers. Similar to agriculture, the growth of a sector or industry requires a collective effort between the government and stakeholders. Artisanal miners will not grow without government or Ministry of Mines personnel to help them with best mining practices, promoting sustainable mining. We appeal to the government and the Ministry to routinely monitor small-scale mining activities to educate miners on best practices, rather than only appearing during accidents or gold mobilization,” Sithole added.
Sithole also highlighted the inefficiencies in the current ground verification system. He also urged the Abolishing of Ground Verification saying it is time-consuming and can be digitally replaced.
“I propose abolishing ground verification before certification because the office lacks the capacity to verify all claims with fewer than ten surveyors and only two cars for the entire province. Instead, we should digitize and use satellite images for verification, saving time and costs.”
Streamlining Certificate Issuance and Addressing Fees
“The issuance of certificates should be streamlined. Currently, miners must obtain approval from the Ministry of Mines and the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), which demands an approved site of works plan. Without information on ground activity, plans are often inaccurate, leading to financial losses. RDC fees are too high for small-scale miners. RDCs should understand that owning a mining claim does not mean having a lot of money. They should set reasonable and uniform fees across all RDCs in Mashonaland West,” Sithole proposed.
Sithole encouraged Environmental Education from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and financial support.
“Environmental education is crucial. While EMA is doing well in protecting the environment, it should invest more in educating miners on environmental issues. Knowledge is better than fines. Section 14 of the EMA Act promotes environmental education, and engagement with artisanal and small-scale miners is key to a sustainable environment,” Sithole noted.
“Regarding Fidelity Printers and Gold Refinery, thank you for providing 100% USD on gold deliveries. However, mining requires significant capital to maximize production. We appeal for loans using our mining claims as collateral, as most of us do not have land or houses for collateral,” Sithole continued.
Need for Specific Laws and Support Services
“There is no specific law for small-scale mining in Zimbabwe, and the same mining laws apply to all mining activities. This one-size-fits-all approach cripples small-scale mining operations due to challenges in capital, equipment, labour, and regulations. The government should establish essential institutions like schools, hospitals, and shopping centres for small-scale miners, allowing them to stay with their families and reducing health hazards,” Sithole pointed out.
Improved Security and Judiciary
“We also appeal to the government to equip the police to address crime in the sector. Robberies are common, and the police often lack transport to respond promptly. We propose stiffer sentences for perpetrators and hard labour in the mines to reduce production costs. The judiciary should also diligently carry out their tasks to address crime in the sector,” Sithole urged.
Exclusive Prospecting Orders and Farmer-Miner Disputes
“Exclusive prospecting orders (EPOs) are meant for prospecting but have gone beyond to mining, suppressing local miners. There should be a term limit for EPOs, ensuring they are used only for exploration and not mining. The government should set timeframes for the issuance or rejection of EPOs,” Sithole suggested.
“Farmer-miner disputes are rising, and the government should urgently develop policies to address this issue, preventing production disruptions. Long-term claims often lead to disputes with new farmers, disrupting mining operations,” Sithole concluded.
