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Trust Freddy-Herald Correspondent
Small-scale gold miners around the country continue to contribute a huge chunk of Zimbabwe’s gold production, having generated more than eight tonnes of bullion in the second quarter of this year as decriminalisation of artisanal mining continues to pay off.
Under the Second Republic, deliveries from the mining sector have been improving significantly over the past few years, especially after the decriminalisation of artisanal mining to encourage panners and artisanal miners to sell their gold formally.
According to statistics released by the Zimbabwe Miners Federation, out of over 14 tonnes of gold produced in Zimbabwe in the first half of this year, small-scale miners have so far generated about 8,7 tonnes.
In 2018, Zimbabwe’s mining sector was generating US$2,8 billion, but the huge flow of inward investment, revival of dormant mines, opening of greenfield projects, and regularisation of artisanal mining, have driven the mining sector towards the US$12 billion target by year end.
In January, small-scale miners contributed 961 kilogrammes while large scale miners contributed 934 kilogrammes and the low production has been mainly attributed to heavy rains that hit most parts of the country as compared to other seasons.
In an interview with The Herald, Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) president Ms Henrietta Rushwaya said despite heavy rains that were experienced this year, the mining sector was on an exponential growth trajectory.
“Our gold production has been increasing exponentially simply because we get adversely affected by the rains, so what is good for the farmer is always bad for the miner,” she said. “We would like to encourage our small-scale miners to produce more than what we produced in previous seasons within the remaining quarter in an effort to hit the 25 tonne target.”
Artisanal and small-scale miners, Ms Rushwaya said, will continue to rally behind the Second Republic, as it guarantees sustainable growth and meaningful transformation.
“This is purely based on the milestone of achievements that have been made by the Second Republic, notably the provision of a grant to the artisanal and small-scale miners to the tune of US$10 million, which has never happened before in the small-scale mining sector,” she said.
She also hailed the Second Republic for actively moving to empower miners.
“We have been given an opportunity to ensure that we are given training on how best we can use the land that we have,” she said.
Zimbabwe is well on course to achieving its target of producing 40 tonnes of gold by the end of the year.
Online Reporter