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Roberta Katunga Senior Business Reporter
THE decentralisation of the Zimbabwe School of Mines to other parts of the country is imminent as the institution implements additional training programmes that will see artisanal and small-scale miners, among other beneficiaries, acquire necessary skills to boost the growth of the mining sector.Speaking at the ZSM 20th annual graduation and prize awards ceremony in Bulawayo on Friday last week, chief executive officer, Mr Dzingirai Tusai, said as part of the institution’s five-year strategic plan (2014-2019) meant to complement the Zim Asset, they have put in place models to offer training to small-scale miners as well as media personnel.
Mr Tusai said the institution has already produced a model for artisanal and small scale miners which will be taught to miners in their areas of operation.
“As part of our five-year strategic plan to complement Zim Asset and ensure its success, we have introduced courses that will help different groups attain skills in the mining industry and we are also going to help media personnel understand the business of mining,” said Mr Tusai.
Freda Rebecca Mine chief executive and Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines vice-president, Mr Toendepi Muganyi, said it was imperative for the ZSM to relook at its strategic vision and adjust its curriculum to match future skills requirements.
Mr Muganyi who was the guest of honour commended the ZSM for introducing skills courses for small scale miners saying there were emerging trends in the country and region that include resource nationalism and maximising benefits of the resources.
“There are new trends that will drive resource extraction and this implies that we need a unique set of skills to address both the now and the future. We will soon require skills in diamond cutting and polishing, smelter operations, coal bed methane extraction as well as mine safety management.
“We would like to see more momentum in small scale mining and artisanal mining development,” said Mr Muganyi.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ceremony, Zimbabwe Miners Federation president, Mr Trynos Nkomo, said the training of small scale miners will help fulfil the goal of the ZMF and Chamber of Mines of growing small scale miners to the next level of being medium scale miners.
Mr Nkomo said the ZSM programme will come in handy as without skills, small-scale mining will remain insignificant without growth.
“The growth of small scale miners can only be done through acquiring mining skills and we have already advocated for the use of vocational training centres around the country so that courses are introduced to various places where small scale mining operations are taking place,” said Mr Nkomo.
He said the small scale mining sector plays a pivotal role in the industry and Zim Asset can be best anchored in the mining industry to achieve maximum benefits.
“Zimbabwe has the potential to be a mineral based economy because we have the resources, so we need skills to do extraction of these minerals to build our economy,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Government is in the process of introducing gold service centres across the country where milling, crushing, processing and selling of gold will take place under one roof.
An assortment of equipment to benefit small scale miners has been distributed to various areas.
Mr Nkomo said at every service centre there will be a block for the ZSM so that training and teaching is done there.
“Construction of these centres is already underway in areas like Zhombe under Chief Samambwa’s area as well as in Silobela in Chief Malisa’s area,” he said.
Other areas earmarked for construction of the centres include Chief Bvute’s area in Mberengwa, Shurugwi area under Chief Nhema, in Bubi under Chief Mtshane as well as in Gwanda’s Gobathema area under Chief Mathe.
Mr Nkomo said at least 200 jobs will be created at each centre and this will help with the decentralisation of the School of Mines.
The graduation ceremony was held under the theme “Churning out skills for the development and beneficiation of the Sadc mineral resources.”
The graduation ceremony saw 146 students graduating with diplomas and higher national diplomas in various mining study fields.
Online Reporter