Artisanal miners’ training essential

Tanaka Mahanya Features Writer
Recently, stakeholders in the mining sector urged Government to avail funding in the 2020 National Budget to educate artisanal miners the need to practise sustainable excavating methods in a move meant to ensure that their activities do not compromise future generations.

This comes at a time when artisanal miners are producing a significant amount of gold, which earns the country the much-needed foreign currency, considering that Zimbabwe is mineral rich, and has great potential for further discoveries.

The country has a very diversified mineral resource base dominated by two prominent geological features — the Great Dyke and ancient greenstone belts.

Reportedly, in 2016, Zimbabwe’s gold mining sector as a whole, comprising artisanal, small-scale and large-scale miners, contributed 2,6 percent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 18 percent of exports and 28 percent of mining output.

Artisanal mining significantly contributes to these figures, and to the growth of Zimbabwe’s economy.

Small-scale miners are also making considerable contributions, particularly in the gold sub-sector, with a share of around 52 percent of gold deliveries.

This development was made possible through Government’s support in the form of US$40 million small-scale support and US$70 million export funding facilities.

However, artisanal miners mostly sell their gold on the black market, where no tax is paid for the transactions, instead of selling to Fidelity Printers and Refiners.

The largely unregulated mining activities in the country have destroyed physical features causing water and soil contamination, degradation of arable land, loss of soil fertility, as well as siltation of rivers, dams, streams and other water bodies.

Along Mwembezi River, Guruve, artisanal miners have caused land degradation in the water course due to gold panning.

Artisanal miners need to be educated so as to reduce water pollution and the dangers of collapse of unprotected mines leading to loss of lives.

If unsafe methods of mining continue to be adopted, there will not be any future to talk about regarding minerals. Artisanal miners lack organisation, proper education, accountability and adaptation of character, which lead to high crime rates.

They are known to take the law into their own hands, normalising crime in their areas of operation.

At Paza Mine in Guruve, there have been reports of artisanal miners being involved in violence and theft, often leaving a trail of death.

It is important to educate them on the essence of ubuntu/hunhu, highlighting the consequences that come with such violent acts, as their behaviour is rather inhuman in most cases.

Environmental and health risks associated with mining are wide-reaching across the country.

The artisanal miners are exposed to mercury which they use during their mining activities.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), exposure to mercury, even in small amounts, can cause serious health problems, and is a threat to the development of the   body.

Mercury may have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems as well as on lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes.

Health lessons, programmes and workshops should be held to encourage artisanal miners to engage in safe mining methods, for example, embracing respirators and water sprays to avoid contracting diseases.

Research shows that an estimated 10 million people worldwide are directly engaged in small-scale mining activities, with another 80 to 100 million people directly or indirectly dependent on production from these activities for their survival, hence investment in the sector will definitely cater for the lives of many.

It is important that the Government improves artisanal and small-scale miners’ working conditions, as well as enable them to have a sense of environmental upkeep so that they adhere to sustainable mining practices.

Also, there must be watertight policies to curb the selling of gold on the black market to ensure tax collection from all transactions for the benefit of the country.

Government, mining companies, local authorities, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), non-governmental organisations and training institutions should come together with a view to educating artisanal miners and creating opportunities for huge investments in the sector.