THE Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) together with Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) have outlined training programmes for artisanal and small-scale chrome miners in a bid to boost their production capacity in the post-COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
Zimbabwe’s artisanal and small-scale chrome miners have been hard hit by adverse effects of Covid-19 pandemic with a few that are still operating reportedly being paid as low as US$20 per tonne. The artisanal and small-scale miners were before the Covid-19 pandemic being paid US$88 per tonne by local buyers for their deliveries.
In a statement, ZMF spokesperson Mr Dosman Mangisi said the chrome sector has been hard hit by the effects of the pandemic.
“We wish to notify the chrome mining industry that the sector has been hit hard by the Covid-19 global pandemic. This has resulted in prices crashing due to imposed regulations internationally on travel bans. Therefore, the sector is not looking good especially on prices. The prices are going down and there is an unfair practice where prices are pegged at US$20 per tonne. Production is relatively low and the chrome mining industry is not looking very encouraging,” said Mr Mangisi.
MMCZ general manager, Mr Tongai Muzenda said they were working tirelessly to revive the sector and they would be rolling out training programmes.
“MMCZ is working tirelessly to bring the sector into the picture. In collaboration with ZMF we have lined up training programmes for artisanal and small-scale miners in the chrome industry. The training programmes are in place and these trainings will give us a better way forward in order to get a market value,” said Mr Muzenda.
He said there were unfair activities that have been taking place in the minefields.
“MMCZ want fairness in the chrome mining and market. In the mine fields there are activities of buying and selling, but we would want fairness in the chrome sector. Therefore, chrome miners’ views are welcomed on board, in order to shape a vibrant Zimbabwean chrome industry,” said Mr Muzenda.
He added: “The organisation also notes these challenges in the wake of the current prevailing international pandemic Covid-19, which has paralysed economies world over, through a number of restrictions in order to curb the spread of this viral disease. Countries world over had put travel bans, restrictions, hence affecting us as Zimbabwe. We are therefore looking forward to help grow the sub-sector of chrome mining in the country. The success of chrome miners is the success of MMCZ also.”
The Sunday News
