The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) has made strides towards achieving President HE Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vision for the mining sector becoming a US$12 BILLION industry by 2023 subsequently leading to vision 2030 with the economy achieving an upper-middle-income earner through its partnership with Zimbabwe India Trade Council (ZITC).
Rudairo Mapuranga
The partnership will through various initiatives promote trade, investment and beneficiation to strengthen artisanal and small scale mining growth and development as well as the formalisation and regularisation of the industry.
According to ZMF President Ms Henrietta Rushwaya, the partnership is a fulfilment of the organisation and government vision to enhance and capacitate artisanal and small scale miners at the same time promoting the “Open for business” mantra.
“Government and ZMF have over the past three years worked tirelessly and aggressively seeking ways to enhance the capacity of artisanal miners in various ways. Zimbabwe is actively participating in international programmes that will gather much-needed sector data and transparency to enhance feasibility and investment into the sector.” Ms Rushwaya said.
ZMF seeks technological collaborations for the development and access of market indicators for certain minerals and sales platforms, expert and technical advice on geology, reliable supply of equipment and parts. It is proven that through the provision and supply of small scale equipment such as compressors, hammer mills, jaw crushers, water pumps an immediate increase in productivity has been registered amongst its miners dotted around the country. The federation also seeks the development of programmes to boost capital access and productivity and training to improve mining skills, occupational safety and health education.
The ZITC President Dr Asif Iqbal said India was prepared to promote the plight of small scale miners in Zimbabwe through a technological exchange in line with environmentally friendly and green mining. Through the ZMF-ZITC partnership according to the ZITC President small scale and artisanal miners from Zimbabwe together with the experts in the industry will have an opportunity to study Mining and mining technology at the School of Mines in India.
Dr Iqbal also said that ZMF and ZITC were looking forward to creating a major mining conference in 2021 as India seeks to promote President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa’s dream for the mining sector in Zimbabwe to become a US$12 Billion sector by 2023.
“We are planning to have a mining conference to bring Zimbabwean and Indian miners together in achieving the 2023 vision. We would want to collaborate with one of the schools of mines in India so that we promote technological exchange. We are looking forward to Zimbabwe India mining relations.” He said.
ZMF encourages collaborations of buying and selling of raw minerals and discussions surrounding beneficiation in the form of wash plants, scrubbers, flotation, gravity, magnetic separators, casting, refractory, blasting, grinding among others.
The Federation has inspired India to tap into the country’s vast mineral wealth opportunities and gain a sense of understanding of the limitless opportunities that exist for expansion and collaboration within Artisanal and small scale mining operations as the country is speeding up the ease of doing business and creating reforms to reduce the cost of doing business which will encourage successful engagement and re-engagement with the international community.
Zimbabwe has a huge and highly diversified mineral resource base dominated by prominent geological features, the country has huge mineral potential characterized by about 60 economic minerals whose commercial profitability has been proven.