Ministry of Mines’ ASM SHE Awareness Campaign Starts
The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development‘s Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) awareness campaign resumed today in Mashonaland West and Matabeleland South Provinces. Artisanal and small-scale miners will be trained to improve their SHE standards.
The government aims to achieve a world-class mining industry with excellent safety standards, where zero harm and zero lost time injuries (LTI) are not only possible but a reality.
The Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Hon Zhemu Soda, announced the SHE campaign last month after the Redwing Mine incident, where 15 artisanal miners were trapped underground due to a fall of ground when they robbed the pillars of the mine.
Minister Soda consulted organizations representing miners, the Chamber of Mines, and the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF), announcing a country-wide campaign to train and educate ASM.
In Mashonaland West and Matabeleland South, the campaign will begin today in Mhangura and Fibabusi, respectively. In Mashonaland West, the teams will be in Chegutu on Tuesday, Chikuti on Wednesday, and Kadoma from Thursday to Friday.
In Matabeleland South, the teams will visit Esigodini, Matopo, Maphisa, Umzingwane, Shangani, Mangwe, and Gwanda. From February 12 to 16, the program will be carried out in Masvingo’s Gutu, Mashava, Stop Over, Ngundu, and in Mashonaland Central’s Guruve, Mt Darwin, Shamva, Mazowe, Chiweshe, and Christon Bank.
In the Midlands Province, the program will be rolled out in Shurugwi, Mberengwa, Kwekwe, Zvishavane, Silobela, Zhombe, and Gokwe from February 19 to 23. On the same dates, in Mashonaland East Province, the program will be held in Makaha, Kotwa, UMP, Goromonzi, and Mutoko.
To wrap up the program from February 26 to March 01, it will be rolled out in Matabeleland North Province in Inyathi and Bubi, as well as in Manicaland Province in Chimanimani, Nyanga, Penhalonga, Odzi, Buhera, and Headlands.
Regarding the course content for training and awareness, the ministry mentioned legal compliance covering title acquisition, appointment of competent persons, statutory fees, and their purposes, explosive permits and licenses, Statutory Instrument (SI) 109 OF 1990/SI 72 OF 1989, as well as the Mines and Minerals Act.
The safe mining course will cover safe mining practices, dangers of mining in old shafts, pillar robbing risks, mining in riverbanks, personal protective equipment (PPE) use, and safe equipment.
Another key course is environmentally friendly mining, addressing cyanide and mercury use, environmental degradation, and rehabilitation during and after mining. Topics include environmental impact assessment (EIA) and environmental management plan (EMP), river conservation, mining methods and planning, mine planning, use of professionals, avoidance of resource dilution, and effects of resource dilution.
The course on the Mining Industry Loan Fund (MILF) will cover aspects such as what MILF is, eligibility, application procedures, advantages, and benefits, including the US$5 million gold facility.
Minister Soda Zhemu is on record, urging artisanal and small-scale miners to formalize their operations to enhance governance, as they contribute more than half of the country’s gold production.”