What government should do to address artisanal mining accidents
In recent weeks Artisanal mining in Zimbabwe has been in the spotlight with calls to ban the practice from some quarters of the country.
Redwing mine in Penhalonga had 15 miners trapped for three days and luckily all escaped alive. Days ago two miners were reported trapped underground in Kwekwe with rescuers labelling the chances of the two making it out alive, futile. In October, 30 miners were trapped underground at Bayhorse Mine in Chegutu and sad scenes of relatives weeping seeing their loved one’s bodies being retrieved memories remain stuck in our memories.
All these accidents were attributed mainly to soft ground due to heavy rains and the horrendous practice of “pillar robbing”.
Pillar robbing is described in ASM mining as the practice of destroying “pillars” that support underground tunnels to extract visible gold from the “Pillars”.
The new Minister of Mines and Mining Development Hon Zhemu Soda jumped to action and visited the Redwing accident site till all 15 emerged from under the belly of the earth. He then called for a press conference and cautioned miners to practice safe mining. He encouraged miners from flood-prone areas to suspend operations as they risked becoming statics in the list of miners dying from collapsing shafts. The Minister also said the Ministry was to roll out training for ASMiners to encourage safe mining.
Whilst there is considerable action from the Ministry to address artisanal mining accidents in Zimbabwe, the government should consider implementing the following measures:
Strengthen Safety Regulations
The government should establish comprehensive safety regulations specifically tailored to artisanal mining operations. These regulations should address issues such as using proper protective gear, adherence to safety standards for equipment and machinery, and regular inspection of mining sites to ensure compliance. However, this can only be possible if the parent Ministry is fully capacitated. The Kadoma office for example should be made into a fully independent mines office with its own Mining Commissioner and have teams that can also be dispatched to enforce safety regulations.
Increase Awareness and Training
The government should launch awareness campaigns to educate artisanal miners about the potential risks associated with their work and provide training on safety practices. This could include workshops, training programs, and information campaigns to reach a larger audience. Short compulsory training should be introduced in the main languages of Shona, Ndebele and the government should introduce a law making this compulsory for general workers of any mine. The government must also consider introducing basic mining into the school curriculum. It is commendable that Minister Soda Zhemu has promised the rolling out of safety training for artisanal and small-scale miners aimed at preventing accidents.
Mining is part and parcel of our direct, indirect daily lives and will be for decades if not centuries. The government should prepare future generations for sustainable mining.
It is important to note that currently, Zimbabwe is not in a position to stop any legal mining as it is a major contributor to the fiscus!
Enhance Monitoring and Enforcement
One thing I have always said is the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development must be fully allocated the funds it requests from the Finance Ministry.
This makes it easier to strengthen monitoring and enforcement of safety regulations. This includes conducting regular visits to mining sites to ensure compliance with safety standards, imposing penalties for non-compliance, and shutting down hazardous operations that repeatedly fail to adhere to safety measures. However, with the Ministry being underfunded for the past years, some of the blame placed on the Ministry becomes illogical. For example, the Chinhoyi Mines office reportedly has around eleven thousand new title applications yet the provincial office has only two vehicles. As a sector which is a leading horse in Zimbabwe’s Economic Development, more effort needs to go towards capacitation. Ministry staff reportedly visit and process an average of seven mining locations a day meaning even for the hardest workers it is an extremely tall order. As long as the Ministry doesn’t get the funds it deems necessary to run efficient operations, there won’t be much it can do except react after tragedy strikes.
The Ministry of Mines is in charge of the goose that lays the golden egg, it needs the best resources to take care of the goose so that we enjoy the benefits that the goose produces.
Provide Support for Formalization
The government must encourage and support the formalization of artisanal mining operations. Informal mining always lacks proper safety protocols due to limited resources and knowledge. By assisting miners in registering their operations, the government can ensure access to better safety practices and introduction of supportive measures that reduce accidents. Getting a licence should take a maximum of three months to avoid the temptation of illegal mining. The Cadastre should also be sped up as it will as play a vital role in the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining.
Promote Technological Solutions
The government should explore technological solutions to improve safety in artisanal mining. For instance, introducing affordable and efficient equipment like small-scale drilling machines or personal gas detectors can help minimize accidents and improve overall safety conditions.
Establish Emergency Response Systems
Set up dedicated emergency response systems specifically tailored to artisanal mining accidents. This includes establishing proper communication channels, ensuring the availability of medical facilities, and training emergency responders to handle mining-related incidents swiftly and effectively. These can be created through big organisations such as the Zimbabwe Miners Federations (ZMF). The teams can be trained by the Mine Rescue Association of Zimbabwe (MRAZ). Several organisations claim to stand for safety in the ASM industry however they are almost nowhere to be seen in times of tragedy.
Engage and Partner with Stakeholders
The government should collaborate with key stakeholders, such as ZMF, the Chamber of Mines, industry experts, the Mines Portfolio Committee and NGOs such as ZELA, to develop holistic approaches to address safety concerns. Involving these stakeholders in policy-making and implementation processes will enhance the effectiveness, ownership, and sustainability of interventions. It is highly commendable that the new Minister has an open-door policy and should he continue on this trajectory we may see safety improvement in the sector.
Conduct Research and Knowledge Sharing
The Government should encourage research on artisanal mining accidents and foster knowledge-sharing platforms to exchange best practices and lessons learned. This can help inform policy decisions and facilitate the adoption of innovative safety measures in the sector.
Like it or not, Artisanal mining is here to stay. The best the country can do for now is work on ensuring it is done safely and sustainably. Most men and women embarking on the trade desperately to make a living and in doing so may not take precautions to ensure their safety and others. The government must jump in and enforce laws to guarantee the safety of our precious Zimbabwe Artisanal Miners’ Lives.
By implementing these measures, the Zimbabwean government can effectively reduce the occurrence of artisanal mining accidents and protect the lives and well-being of artisanal miners.