Taskforce dispatched to conduct a Gold Mobilization Blitz
Ministry of Mines and Mining Development on Wednesday dispatched the Gold Mobilisation Taskforce to conduct a Gold Mobilization Blitz which is one of the Ministry’s strategic plans to increase gold deliveries to Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR), contributing to the growth of the mining sector.
Speaking at the Gold Mobilisation Taskforce send-off Mines and Mining Development Minister Hon Winston Chitando said significant improvements in the gold delivered to FGR have been seen thanks to the collective efforts of all stakeholders.
The current production in 2023 shows that gold producers have delivered a total of 8.57 tonnes of gold to FGR for the period January to April 2023, a 15.77% decrease from last year’s production of 10.17 tonnes during the same period. The decreased gold production was mainly due to heavy rains and power cuts.
As a way to mitigate these challenges, the Government of Zimbabwe has set aside USD5 million towards the capacitation of small-scale miners, and the establishment of gold service centres. Small-scale miners are the major contributors of gold delivered to Fidelity Gold Refinery.
“Looking at the current production in 2023, gold producers have delivered a total of 8.57 tonnes of gold to Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) for the period January to April 2023, a 15.77% decrease from last year’s production of 10.17 tonnes during the same period. The decreased gold production from small-scale miners, the major contributors of gold delivered to Fidelity Gold Refinery, in January and February was mainly due to heavy rains and they spent the period dewatering shafts. As a way to mitigate this challenge, the Government of Zimbabwe has set aside USD5
Million towards capacitation of small-scale miners,” Chitando said
In March and April of 2023, the gold delivered to FGR increased significantly, providing a positive outlook for the gold sector and giving confidence that if delivery rates are maintained, then the 2023 targets are well in sight. However, despite the increase in gold delivery, these deliveries fall short of possible gold produced in Zimbabwe during this period due to rampant side marketing, which calls for enhanced compliance enforcement in the sector.
The country is rich in gold deposits, and the stakeholders strongly believe that the production can reach 40 tonnes by 2023. However, the key to realizing this target is the plugging of side markets and improved power generation which are a pariah to efforts in the mining sector and the development that is hoped to be achieved.
There is a need to conscientize the miners on the advantages of responsible mining as the fatalities of unlicensed miners have recently been on the rise. Small-scale mining is provided for in the Mines and Mineral Act Bill and is a potent means of creating a contribution to economies and multitudes of livelihoods it supports about 500 000 people directly employed in the sector and 1.5 million people indirectly.