Miners applaud Mines for ongoing SHE awareness campaign
Artisanal and Small-scale Miners (ASM) from Matabeleland South and Mashonaland West, where the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development’s Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE) awareness campaign was inaugurated, have applauded the government for the trainings, saying they will go a long way in bringing sanity to the ASM sector.
Rudairo Mapuranga
The government aims to achieve a world-class mining industry with excellent safety standards, where zero harm and zero lost time injuries are not only possible but a reality.
The SHE campaign was announced by Minister Zhemu Soda after the Redwing Mine incident as a measure to educate small-scale miners on responsible mining.
According to Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) Mashonaland West Province Vice Chairperson Ndushu, many miners have attended the campaign and are optimistic that accidents and incidents will be significantly reduced in the ASM industry.
“It is a very good and educative programme for miners. Thanks very much to the planners,” Ndushu said.
Representing miners in Matabeleland South, Young Miners Foundation (YMF) CEO Payne Farai Kupfuwa said the trainings will rewrite and redefine the small-scale mining narrative in terms of responsible mining.
“We are the true beneficiaries of these training and awareness programmes more than anyone else. The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has shown a great will to formalize and professionalize small-scale mining, and this exercise will truly rewrite and redefine the small-scale mining narrative,” said Mr Kupfuwa.
He added, “We are elated and grateful for this initiative, and we encourage all young miners to participate in the training because it will go a long way in formalizing and professionalizing the industry, which will see the industry grow.”