Former Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio on Mines and Mining Development and Norton Legislator Hon Temba Peter Mliswa will this week host the Norton small scale mining regulation and formalisation with different stakeholders in a bid to improve and promote mining in Norton and Zimbabwe at large, Norton Miners Chairperson Privalege Moyo has said.
Rudairo Mapuranga
According to Moyo, Norton miners are ready to lead the way to sustainable and safe mining in Zimbabwe and have therefore classified the year 2020 as the year of production and shaping up of the mining industry.
The Norton miners chairperson also said that his association is working towards creating a security company that will protect all mining activities in the area from rogue elements like the rising machete gangs, thus they have decided to seek advice from the security and judiciary sectors at the meeting to be hosted by Hon Mliswa.
“2020 is a year we call for all hands on deck, so as Norton miners we would like all mining activities to start shaping up and become productive. As we plan for the 2020 mining, we also seek assurance from the legal side being the judiciary about the security of our miners and mines against the rogue elements who always find refuge in the loopholes of the law and get released. So we need to tie all loose ends as we move and plan forward.” said Moyo.
Moyo also said that his Association has invited big mines like Zimplats to grace their meeting with the former Chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio on mines that large-small mines come to recognize small scale mining so that they can help in the formalisation of this sector.
“Big mining houses need to recognise the existence of ASM and should always come in handy as big brothers to help or assist. Communities also need assurance from big mining houses in regard to their inclusion and involvement as well as benefits. Minerals are for us all as ZIMBABWEANS hence the need to share them equally. So once the mining is in full swing, then as a country we will be able to realise the benefits. Mines should not remain dominant for years due to speculative investment” the Norton Miners Chairperson said.
Moyo also said that this meeting was called for the miners to have full knowledge of the use it or lose it stance which will be carried out by the government of Zimbabwe on all mining concessions that are being held for speculative purposes.
“We are in support of use it or lose it, as that will bring our country out of the challenges we are facing. So, an all stakeholders meeting is very important for us as we start up the year. Miners and owners need to attend as this meeting to shape our way forward” Moyo said.
“Norton is faced with a soon to come urban expansion which will swallow most of the mining activities so there is a need to extract and rehabilitate so that the very land could be used for other developments than to hold the minerals and later on be sealed down by new projects. This is evidenced by the Udicorp housing development which has taken over a very rich gold area and converted it into a residential development.”