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Dosman Mangisi Mining Correspondent
MINES and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa has hailed the sharp increase of gold output by small-scale miners since the beginning of the year.
Speaking at a recent handover ceremony of mining equipment donated by Mimosa Mining Company to small-scale miners in Zvishavane, Minister Chidhakwa said gold production by the small-scale mining sector was on a rebound since 2014 due to compliance factors.
He said this year alone artisanal and small-scale miners were delivering an average of 660kg of the yellow metal per month to Fidelity Printers and Refiners.
“In January, the small-scale mining sector delivered 303kg of gold to Fidelity Printers and Refiners and since then, they have been delivering a monthly average of 660kg. This is as a result of our gold mobilising teams which we put in place at the end of last year to monitor the movement of gold.”
Fidelity Printers and Refiners is the sole buyer of gold in the country.
Chidhakwa said the small-scale mining sector last year delivered 1,332kg of gold while official figures from the Zimbabwe Miners’ Federation, a body which represents the interest of small-scale miners, show that more than 3,200kg of gold were produced in the first half of this year.
Meanwhile, the Mines Minister has lamented the small volumes of gold produced by big mines.
“Gold output levels by large mines have remained stagnant since the beginning of the year,” he said.
Minister Chidhakwa said the government recognises the invaluable role that the small-scale mining industry plays in economic growth and development.
Online Reporter