Vusumuzi Dube
Judith Phiri , Business Reporter
A MINER in Filabusi, Matabeleland South Province, Mr Christopher Mlilo has called on miners to formalise their operations and sell gold through legal channels to curb leakages in the country.
Gold is expected to contribute US$4 billion to the attainment of the US$12 billion mining industry by year-end, while platinum US$3 billion, chrome, iron, steel, diamonds and coal will contribute US$1 billion each. Lithium is expected to contribute US$500 million and other minerals will contribute US$1,5 billion.
Speaking recently at his 73rd birthday and mine plant opening ceremony at his Lyn 24 Mine in Amazon area, Mr Mlilo who is also a war veteran and has been in mining since 1999, said formalisation was critical for miners.
“When l started off mining we were using rudimentary tools, including hand drilling, but we saw that there was money in this sector. Over the years we have faced some difficulties one such incident in 2007, when the Government introduced environmental law under a police operation called
Isitsheketsha Sesiphelile/Chikorokodza Chapera, our mining operations were temporarily suspended. We managed to do what was required to adhere to the laws and we were permitted to resume operations. Having all the right documents and acquiring equipment and machinery has allowed me to continue mining till to date. l deliver my gold to Fidelity and l have also registered a number of mining syndicates,” he said.
Mr Mlilo said for the development of the economy and the country, miners have to formalise their operations and ensure all the minerals they are mining are accounted for. He said they were grateful to President Mnangagwa’s vision of an upper middle-income economy by 2030, that has seen all sectors, mining included registering unprecedented growth.
“Sanctions are a huge menace for us, but through the leadership of President Mnangagwa we have witnessed massive economic growth and development. l call upon all artisanal and small-scale miners to do away with the black market and go through the formal channels, that is delivering their minerals to the Government so that our economy continues to grow and we develop as a country despite the sanctions,” he said.
Mr Mlilo has also brought cheers to people in the area through developmental projects that include roads rehabilitation and taking care of the elderly. He said he has made it a mandate to buy groceries and pay school fees for the less privileged in the community as well as taking care of the elderly as they continue to increase the number of people they have assisted over the years.
“I am also building a hall and as it is my goal to see development in my community. I have also rehabilitated a number of roads in the area and l am still to do more. Among other key things l will be drilling a borehole in Village B and at a number of clinics,” he said.
Insiza District Development Co-ordinator (DDC) Mr Zacharia Jusa said abiding by the law for miners was critical for the development of their district, province and country at large.
“Most miners are not paying all the fees they are supposed to pay which makes the development of their areas, districts, provinces and country at large become a challenge. Let us emulate Mr Mlilo and you can see from all the equipment that is here, after his formalisation, planning was involved, strategising and saving that has made him succeed.”
Ministry of Mines and Mining Development Matabeleland South provincial mining director (PMD), Mr Khumbulani Mlangeni said investing back in equipping and capacitating the mine was critical for increased production.
“l urge all other miners to take note of what Mr Mlilo has done. We have got a lot of good potential miners around but we have a problem that they are not formalised. They just want to dig and even the channels they use to sell the gold we do not know them.”
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