Government hails Miners Federation for promoting sustainable mining

Herald Reporter

Government has commended the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) for its efforts in promoting sustainable mining practices.

Speaking at the Zimbabwe Miners Federation annual general meeting today, Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando said sustainable mining practices are a key pillar in achieving an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.

This year’s meeting is running under the theme ‘Sustainable Mining: A Catalyst Towards National Development’.

ZMF president, Ms Henrietta Rushwaya said: “We have taken heed of Government’s call and international standards to prioritise responsible mining as a measure to respect human rights, deliver safe conditions for personnel and communities, and minimize environmental impacts.

“As small-scale miners, we need to take precautionary measures at our sites, and we must ensure that our shafts are properly collared and covered. We should also encourage our miners to create proper drainage systems that capture flowing water.”

The ZMF plans to develop a comprehensive and tailored Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy that is specifically designed for Zimbabwe’s small-scale mining sector.

Also present at the meeting were officials from the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, Fidelity Gold Refinery, Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe, Mining Promotions Company, and the Environmental Management Agency.