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PLWDs lament over unfair treatment in the mining sector

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PLWDs lament over unfair treatment in the mining sector

There is no policy in the Mines and Mineral Act that specifically considers people living with disabilities (PLWDs). The loan facilities set up by the government are not targeted to the disabled community who aspire to be in the mining sector, hence this is a barrier for them to venture into the mining industry. As such the government has failed to implement a pragmatic and decisive approach to curb these unfair operations in this sector.

Mirirai Melissa Ngoya

People living with disabilities are not being recognized in the mining sector of Zimbabwe. Being cast off at the mercy of social welfare, it is high time for the Zimbabwean government promote this esteemed group so that it completely benefits from the nation’s resources.

It is crucial for the government of Zimbabwe to create a conducive environment for Plwds creating easy access for them to venture in the mining sector.

“The government should create an enabling environment for Plwds assisting them to secure a living. In the mining industry they should be equipped with all they need especially mining equipment, expertise training them on mining management,” Said the National secretary of Plwds Mr Moses Marufu.

The government has not rendered special loans to the disabled leading to a conclusion that these individuals are not being considered.

Marufu said, “at Fidelity Printers and refiners loans for mining equipment are hard to come by because there are only policies for women and youths non-special for Plwds.”

The national secretary of PLWDS added on saying, “loan facilities suggested that they want the government to domesticate the convention of the rights of people with disabilities so that Plwds have the means to production.”

People living with disabilities are facing technical discrimination in striving to be inducted into the mining sector as opined by Moses Marufu.

“High fees to access mining claims and paperwork is technical discrimination leaving  us at the mercy of some charity organization as if we are not human beings worthy of enjoying the Zimbabwean benefits.”

Adding on, Mr Marufu highlighted that the disabled are experiencing financial classism since bank loans are inaccessible and the demands are too high considering that people living with disabilities are financially marginalized.

“It will be good if we get rates and government guarantor ships or even grants for mining initiatives for Plwds. There is also a need for the government to create quota systems in mining with full equipment payable over a certain period… we have been discriminated against,” insisted the national secretary of PLWDS.

Consequently,  people who are physically challenged are finding solace in the Zimbabwean streets asking for financial assistance from the public in a bid to sustain a living. Therefore, the government should consider these individuals and create conducive ways for them to be incorporated into the formal sectors of the Nation.

The government of Zimbabwe must implement policies that will take heed of the plight of the disabled and begin to appreciate these esteemed people who are not only able but proficient and innovative. Laws that protect these individuals from all forms of discrimination must be fostered.

The national  secretary for the disabled alluded, “the current crop of the disabled are educated and they are keen to partake in socio-economic activities unlike in the past where we were put in the peripheries of economic activities and regarded as social welfare cases.”

“The government through the Zimbabwe miners Federation (ZMF) and the chamber of mines should implement deliberate laws, policies as well awareness campaigns so that the disabled can effectively contribute to the country’s GDP,”  consolidated the National chairperson.

There is an urgent need for the government to put in place new laws and policies in the mining sector so as to accommodate the disabled.

Gang robs Esigodini gold dealer

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Gang robs Esigodini gold dealer

A GANG of four machete-wielding robbers broke into the house of an Esigodini gold dealer and robbed him of R6 850, $4 700, US$10, shoes and two cell phones.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele, confirmed the incident which occurred at Esibomvu last Friday.

He said the gang that was armed with machetes, axes and knobkerries broke into the house while the gold dealer was asleep and threatened him before robbing him.

Police did not release the name of the complainant.

“I can confirm that we recorded an armed robbery case which occurred on Friday at Esibomvu at around 2AM. The complainant who is a gold dealer was asleep in his house when four men who were armed with machetes, axes and knobkerries broke into the house.

“They threatened to attack the complainant and demanded cash. They left with $4 700, R6 850, US$10, four pairs of shoes and two cell phones. Investigations are underway and no arrests have been made,” he said.

Chief Insp Ndebele appealed to members of public who might have information on the whereabouts of the robbers to contact any nearest police station_The Chronicle

Chrome producers’ USD payment plea heard

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Chrome producers’ USD payment plea heard

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has adhered to the prayer by chrome producers concerning predatory chrome buying which was fueled by lack of clarity on the recently gazatted Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019 which banned all local forex transaction.

Chrome Producers wishing to receive payments in foreign currency from chrome buyers are required to open an Exports Nostros Account in order to enable chrome buyers to send payments in forex.With this new update, the Nostro Export Account enables Chrome miners to receive  funds from a domestic / local transaction but the rules still apply on retention at 50% .

According to National Chrome producers’ representative member Masango Mahlahla, the updated Circular was issued to correct the additional negative impact that occurred when all forex payments were banned for domestic transactions.

“RBZ was notified of the damaging impact this would have on small scale chrome operations and as a result issued the above revision to stop the predatory buying which is taking place domestically” he said.

According to Mahlahla the publication of the SI 142 led locally operating Chrome Buyers to pay small scale chrome miners in Zimbabwean dollars and used the RBZ rules as an excuse.

“Chrome Miners require forex to run operations.  Most miners export chrome indirectly, meaning that the chrome is often sold to larger exporters / local buyers and smelters who in turn receive the forex from international chrome sales” he said.

According to the new RBZ Exchange Control Regulations, Nostros Transitionary Accounts which received funding from Export Proceeds can only send payments to Exports Nostros Accounts when buying chrome from a Producer / miner regardless of whether the person or group is registered as an individual or a company.

ZMF urges Government to speed up Mines Bill amendment process

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ZMF urges Government to speed up Mines Bill amendment process

GOVERNMENT should speed up the amendment process to the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill to create a proper legal framework that will address sticking issues in the mining sector, small-scale miners lobby body, the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF), has said. 

President Emmerson Mnangagwa last year ordered that the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill be taken back to Parliament for further scrutiny after miners cried foul that they were left out in the crafting process. Since then, there has been little progress in the amendment process, a situation that has hampered progress in the mining sector, the country’s largest foreign currency earner.

Speaking during a Small Scale Miners Conference at Mine Entra in Bulawayo on Friday, ZMF president Ms Henrietta Rushwaya called on Government to speed up the amendment process.

“The Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill is an issue of great concern as I stand before you. We, therefore, implore Government to expedite the amendment process so that a number of issues are addressed. I am reliably informed that the consultative process has already begun and a steering committee will soon be put in place,” she said.

Ms Rushwaya said the Bill was expected to address a number of issues including formalisation of small-scale miners, plugging gold leakages and illicit gold trading as well as casualties within the mining sector.

“We have a number of issues that hinge upon the Mines and Minerals Bill hence the call for its speedy crafting and conclusion. We have issues like escalating illicit mineral deals predominantly in the gold sector, the loss of employment in the formal sector also has been escalating. There have been escalating issue of disputes between farmers and miners stalling progress in the mining sector. The Mines and Minerals Bill is set to tackle all these issues, chief among them formalisation of small-scale miners putting an end to these challenges,” she said.

The ZMF boss said legal battles within the sector have also been stalling progress as the leadership has had to spend more time in courts.

“We were elected into office last year in June but let me hasten to say we have been fighting legal battles week in and week out at the expense of progress. This has been an issue of concern and as small scale miners we are saying let us stop fighting and focus on mining. We should avoid fighting for personal gains, let us be peaceful miners,” she said.

Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minster, Polite Kambamura, said the Parliamentary portfolio committee on mines had already kick-started publicmconsultations.

“The Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill is now work in progress. Parliamentarians have already embarked on public consultations. 

“The Bill is set to address challenges as mentioned by Ms Rushwaya, chief among them the formalisation of the miners as they are currently contributing 60 percent of gold deliveries to Fidelity Printers,” he said.

Deputy Minister Kambamura said the Bill was set to tackle the disputes, which emanated in 2008 soon after the land reform programme. He said Government had also escalated efforts to bring sanity in the mining sector by launching a safety awareness camping to avoid further loss of lives.

“We are working hand in hand with ZMF to carry out awareness campaigns so that the miners remain safe. We also applaud ZMF on its partnerships with civic organisations to try and bring sanity in the mining sector,” said Deputy Minister Kambamura_The Chronicle

Female diamond processor being ‘persecuted’

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Female diamond processor being ‘persecuted’

Barbra Mutambanegwe is the first woman who ventured into the Diamond Mining Processing. She founded and heads the Kenako diamond processing. Instead of being celebrated as a groundbreaker her efforts are perpetuating persecution.

By Mirirai Melissa Ngoya

Victimisation has become the reward of the effort laid by Barbra Mutambanegwe who is the leading woman making history in the diamond mining industry. Recently this year she has been battling with a foreign business person who wanted to take over her work, as a result of meddling corrupt govt officials.

“I am surprised that someone just comes in and attempts to transfer my business to a foreigner, and looking at it, it is because I am a woman,” said Ms Barbra.

“It is very cruel that I have suffered in coming up with this for the benefit of the nation and my family, but someone starts blocking everything, trying to hand over a woman’s efforts to a person whose interest is not towards adding development to the country.”

Diamond processing and mining have been aligned to be a man’s job despite those odds Ms Mutambanegwe engaged herself into diamond processing but apart from being celebrated as the first female laying a great foundation for women in the country to pave way for them to do exploits, she is being discriminated.

“Kenako diamond processor provides quality diamonds, it is because I am a female figure that is the reason why I am facing discrimination with people targeting my work.”

“Persecution is chasing away clients, hence creating cartels who do work for their selfish benefit.”

Barbra also added on saying “when you educate a woman you educate a nation and also by persecuting her you are persecuting the nation.”

It is better to join hands and work together regardless of gender differences and celebrating one’s victory than trembling upon one’s work.

Foreign mining firms keen to do business with Zimbabwe

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Foreign mining firms keen to do business with Zimbabwe

ZIMBABWE has a great potential to transform its economy in the short to long term, riding on its natural resource base.

This was said by foreign exhibitors at the just ended 24th edition of the Mine Entra Conference held in Bulawayo. 

South Korea, which came for the first time, was represented by Everdigm Corporations while Mauritius was represented by Acetek. Both companies are into mining supplies and are keen to do business with Zimbabwe.

“I heard that 25 percent of the country’s income is from mining. Mining is very important in Zimbabwe. To make people’s live better mining should come in first then the other industries will follow because you make money from mining and then prop it with other industries like agriculture and construction etc,” said Mr Ian Lee, Everdigm sales manager. 

“So, people get a better life so that they can buy something easily. I want to be part of the improvement and development of the Zimbabwean economy. We will stand behind our customers to support their operations using regional prices.”

Acetek operations director, Mr Abdulkadir Moosajee, said his company was positive about moving into the Zimbabwe market as there is a great potential for business growth. He, however, said more needs to be done to perfect the ease of doing business atmosphere.

The Mine-Entra exhibition has over the years attracted local and foreign exhibitors and this year six countries participated. These include Mauritius, South Africa, Zambia, China, Kenya and South Korea.

A total of 200 direct exhibitors registered participation at the trade showcase with 29 percent of that figure being from Bulawayo. The gathering provided stakeholders an opportunity to debate critical issues affecting the mining sector as well as come up with strategies to improve growth and contribution to the national economy_The Chronicle

‘Zim needs increased value addition projects’

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‘Zim needs increased value addition projects’

THE mining sector needs more value addition and beneficiation investments for the country to fetch higher export earnings from its rich natural resource base, Mines and Mining Development Minister, Winston Chitando, has said.

Despite increased output on major minerals last year and positive prospects going forward, the Minister says reliance on raw extraction without value addition will continue to rob the economy of the desired potential growth.

To that end, Chitando says Government has put in place a cocktail of policies and strategies that are aimed at ensuring that the mining sector meaningfully contributes to the attainment of Vision 2030 of ensuring that Zimbabwe develops into an upper middle income economy. Value addition and beneficiation are seen as key ingredients in this direction, as they dovetail with the goals of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), which seeks to ensure the country exports locally beneficiated and value added minerals that yield more proceeds in the international markets. This is critical given that the country is heavily reliant on mining for the much-needed foreign currency, said the minister.

“It is our hope that investments in the smelters and other mineral beneficiation facilities by the companies will increase with the firming investor confidence in response to the ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ agenda,” said Minister Chitando.

He also said Government was working towards finalising the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill while consultations are already ongoing with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development in preparation for re-submission of the Bill to Parliament. The Bill seeks to provide an improved and competitive mining legislative framework that offers a conducive investment environment for local and foreign investors while curtailing prejudice to the national fiscus.

“Thus, the Bill is aimed at opening up the mining sector to investment and attainment of sustainable development of the sector and the national economy in general,” said Minister Chitando.

“It is our hope that the Bill will be finalised soon given the high level commitment to this process by Parliament and the President.”

Similar efforts are being put to amend the Gold Trade Act and the Precious Stones Trade Act and due process is expected to be done by the 4th quarter of this year.

In addition to supporting and facilitating the envisaged sustainable mineral development, he said, Government was in the process of crafting various mineral specific policies that include the diamond, chromium, gold and coal development policies.

Minister Chitando, who was represented by his deputy, Polite Kambamura, at the Mine Entra exhibition in Bulawayo last week, said the scrapping of the indigenisation policy has liberalised all mining investments including platinum and diamonds, which were previously affected by the legislation.

“Investors in the mining sector no longer have any restrictions in shareholding and are free to form partnerships with local partners on a mutually beneficial basis,” he said_The Chronicle

Brown Engineering Group – A passion for delivery

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Brown Engineering Group – A passion for delivery

Brown Engineering Group, a proudly Zimbabwean company, is wanting to make it known that they have diversified from their roots in the agricultural industry and applied this knowledge base into the mining sector. The Group sees a bright future in the Zimbabwean mining industry and aims to support the economy by providing homegrown solutions to the mining industry’s needs.

Rhett Edwards, the Companies Business Development Manager says; “We have diversified our offerings by applying the knowledge and skills attained from decades of manufacturing in the agricultural sector, to different industries with similar requirements for structural steel support and mechanical processing equipment. We believe this is imperative not only for continued business operations, but also to make sure that the country’s productivity increases. We want to showcase that the mining entities can support Zimbabwean manufacturing companies and we can provide the solutions required to fulfill their expectations.”

“We are currently competing with regional and international companies and must adhere to the high standards already set. We have achieved this, on several projects, the most predominant one being Pickstone Peerless Mine in the Chegutu area.  Brown Engineering were commissioned to build a CIP tank farm of over 165 tons, comprising of 6 tanks with all the launders, walkways, supports and necessary interfaces. The company sees this offering of bulk steel structures as a key focus due to the expertise and capabilities they have in terms of manufacturing.”

Brown Engineering not only specializes in mining, agriculture, and structural work, they also focus on pipelines and tanks, as well as material handling equipment, namely conveyors, weighbridges and silos. All these products and services allows customers to deal with one entity that can provide a one-stop solution to customer specifications at very competitive prices be it regional or local.

On the infrastructure side, Brown Engineering Group has focused on commercial structures, having built many warehouses for various entities, namely Varun Beverages (PEPSI) and tobacco houses, measuring up to 15,000m² per individual warehouse. Although these projects rarely come around, the company acknowledges that their specialty lies between the 800m2 to 6,000m² warehousing which conforms to their standard designs which allows them to deliver quickly. The application of these commercial structures has now been adapted to mining, one in particular, a 5,000m2² structure for the up and coming Prospect Lithium Mine.

During a factory tour, it was great to see what a Zimbabwean manufacturing company can achieve. Brown Engineering Group are undertaking projects for the mining industry, pipelines for hydro power in the Eastern Highlands as well as numerous commercial structures locally and regionally.

Brown Engineering Group is venturing into the mining sector, as mining is now one of the biggest industries in Zimbabwe which can help revive the nation’s economy from where it is right now.

Rhett maintains “We are open for business and we are ready to deliver what the customer needs in terms of quality, time frame and with a budget considerate approach.”

Brown Engineering Group lives by its slogan, ‘A passion for delivery!’ and looks forward to fully engaging clients and their requirements in the mining sector.

Rushwaya called on “Mashurugwi” to desist from “machetes”

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Rushwaya called on “Mashurugwi” to desist from “machetes”

Zimbabwe Miners Federation President Henrietta Rushwaya commended artisanal and small scale miners to stop slaughtering each other with machetes but rather focus on mining in order for them to surpass their production target.

Rudairo Dickson Mapuranga

Rushwaya urged artisanal miners to seek help and guidance from ZMF executive and the ministry of mines on how to solve disputes and shun carrying machetes around.

“Let us use machetes properly, we don’t know a Zimbabwe that has people walking around carrying machetes,” said Rushwaya.

Rushwaya also recommended that artisanal miners should work with different stakeholders in the mining community to curb Mashurugwi’s notorious activities.

“Let us report people who come in our areas carrying machetes,” she said.

Speaking at the same event, Chegutu West Member of Parliament Hon Dexter Nduna also encouraged artisanal and small scale miners to leave the habit of terrorising each other with machetes, instead, they should seek for mutual ways of handling disputes.

‘‘I have three things to tell you, artisanal miners, the first is, desist from using machetes, second, desist from using machetes and the third is, desist from using machetes” said Hon Nduna.

Machetes miners popularly known as Mashurugwi rose to prominence in the Shurugwi area where they are known for using machetes and other alike equipment to rob gold mining holes from other miners who are inferior to them.

The so-called Mashurugwi were also accused of robbing communities they reside in with machetes leading to their unpopularity.

Miners urged to sell gold to fidelity

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Miners urged to sell gold to fidelity

The Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining development Honorable Polite Kambamura has urged small scale and artisanal miners to deliver their gold production to Fidelity Printers and Refiners (FPR) in order to receive enough support from the government.

Rudairo Dickson Mapuranga

Speaking at the Environmental Impact Assessment launch held in Kadoma a forth night ago, the Deputy Minister said it was a very noble idea for small scale and artisanal miners to sell their gold production to Fidelity so as to help in the course of the economy.

Kambamura said that the government is ready to employ more gold buyers under fidelity who will live in the mining areas in order to unburden the miners from relinquishing their operations when going to sell gold.

The deployment of more gold buyers according to Kambamura will also reduce leakages because miners will have easy access to Fidelity licensed buyers.

“The government is working on giving more money to buyers. We are going to employ more gold buyers through Fidelity” said Kambamura.

“It is becoming difficult for miners to move from their mines to go and sell their gold to fidelity,” said the Deputy Minister.

Kambamura also said that if small scale and artisanal miners adhere to the government’s call to deliver their gold production to Fidelity and if the country reaches its gold production target for 2019, it will be very encouraging for miners and the government to engage large scale miners in order for them to offer tributary mining claims to small scale and artisanal miners.

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