ZMF AGM to deliberate on USD 12 Billion mining vision
The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) is looking forward through its Annual General Meeting (AGM) to reflect on the threats and opportunities affecting the contribution of small-scale and artisanal miners to the national fiscus, the Federation’s spokesperson Dosman Mangisi has said.
Rudairo Dickson Mapuranga
The ZMF General Councilors yesterday held a Special General Council meeting reflecting on its AGM to be held in December as well as pondering on Rural District Council levies, Exclusive Prospecting Orders (EPOs) and the shortages of explosives.
Speaking to Mining Zimbabwe, Mangisi said the meeting focused on how the small scale and artisanal mining sector in Zimbabwe can contribute towards the mining industry achieving USD 12 billion industry by 2023 by analyzing the opportunities and threats in the sector as well as how ZMF can provide solutions in the growth and development of the sector.
“The meeting deliberated on the coming AGM and on mitigating the USD12 BILLION mining sector, with the participation of the small-scale miners to support the Minister’s vision. The USD 12 billion rests in the hands of ZMF and the Chamber of Mines. We are looking at the threats, opportunities, and how best we can tackle the challenges to make sure the USD12 billion is achievable.” Mangisi said.
Last year the President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa unveiled the USD12 billion road map with aims at developing the mining sector in Zimbabwe to a USD12 billion industry by 2023.
The mining sector is already Zimbabwe’s biggest foreign currency earner. Experts and the government are of the view that the sector is the leading horse towards the revival of the economy.
The small scale and artisanal mining sector has also been hailed for contributing significantly to the country’s foreign currency earnings with the small scale gold sector predicted to contribute over 12 percent of the country’s total export earnings.
ZMF through its Special General Council meeting has outlined that its AGM should deliberately focus on the growth and development of the mining industry through emphasising on the formalization of the sector first step being the payment of the organization’s membership fees and also trying to bring miners together in pondering shortages of equipment and consumables in the mining industry.