The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) has taken a move to formalize, professionalize and regularize the work by illegal miners at the Mazowe gold fields by engaging Metallon Corporation which owns the shut-down mine to control the work at the mining claims.
Rudairo Mapuranga
Through its recently formed Zimbabwe Miners for Economic Development (Miners for ED) ZMF engaged Metallon Corporation so that those who have been mining illegally at the mining site are managed and also that people from Mazowe benefit from the resource that is mined in their area.
Speaking at the launch of Miners for ED Mashonaland Central Chapter at Mazowe gold fields, ZMF President Ms Henrietta Rushwaya said her organization was working to formalize the work of artisanal miners so that they can be a formal sector.
“We are trying to remove our people from illegal activities. We are trying to remove our people from being called nuisances by big companies who are owners of these areas where our people have been illegally mining. We are also trying to make government generate revenue from the day-to-day workings that will be taking place,” Rushwaya said.
Speaking at the same event, Mazowe Gold Fields (Jumbo Mine) Mine Manager Mr Allan Musikavanhu said his mine was supporting ZMF for the country to achieve a formalization process. He said they wanted to lead by example in assisting the growth and development of the artisanal mining sector.
“Over the years, artisanal miners have been called derogatory names like makorokoza, yes they have been invading most big operations and mining illegally but today marks a different chapter as the mine has initiated and designed programs to empower them and achieve ZMF initiative in formalizing the sector.
“In support of ZMF we have started a formalization process so that the artisanal miners will mine formally observing all set regulations and standards,” Musikavanhu said.
For the country to achieve the President’s vision to see the economy earning an upper middle-income status by 2030 and the mining industry fetching US$12 billion annually, formalization has been one of the strategies for the country.
Speaking at the event Minister of Mines and Mining Development Hon Winston Chitando commended the ZMF for having the vision to see that closed mines like Mazowe can for a time implement formalization of mining to support the formal selling of minerals.
“The issue of formalization is supported by the government because it encourages miners to sell their minerals through formal channels. It also creates orderly mining because the miners will be managed,” Chitando said.
ZMF Chairperson Tichaona Mharadze said the thrust by his organization was to see all illegal activities happening at disused or closed operations being done legally and formally to avoid environmental degradation and accidents.
“As ZMF we are engaging big mines to give our youth tributes for them to formalize operations so that we can control how they are digging to minimize environmental degradation,” Mharadze said.