adminFungai Lupande Mash Central Bureau
Mashonaland Central has the capacity to surpass the provincial target of delivering 8,4 tonnes of gold this year, but underutilisation of Mazowe and Shamva goldfields and rampant illegal mining activities is a deterring factor, says Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Monica Mavhunga.
Speaking during a workshop at Ming Chang Mill Mine in Shamva that was attended by Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Polite Kambamura, Minister Mavhunga said empowerment of the small scale miners leverages the province towards achieving vision 2030 goals.
She challenged the mining community to be vigilant and to stick to best mining practices for the benefit of future generations.
“In 2014, Government through the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, spearheaded the gold mobilisation programme which had the mandate to increase gold deliveries to Fidelity Printers and Refiners,” said Minister Mavhunga.
“The success of this programme has seen a rise in national gold deliveries over the past four years and we thank the gold mining community for their continued cooperation. As we get closer to devolution I am pleased to say that Mashonaland Central has great potential in surpassing the given provincial gold delivery target — 8,4 tonnes for 2019.
“However, Metallon Gold Mines in Mazowe and Shamva goldfields are under care and maintenance which is a major deterrence in achieving our target.
“Deputy Minister, we request for your swift intervention in addressing the urgent issue of resuscitating production at these large scale mining sites.”
Minister Mavhunga added that the province is grappling with an increase in illegal mining activities, non-compliance to environmental regulations in Mazowe, Mt Darwin and Shamva.
“There are open pits everywhere and people end up killing each other.
“I want to applaud the efforts and progress made so far by the district and provincial joint operational commands, they directed all illegal miners to stop operation from April 11, at the Masasa hotspot in Mazowe and encouraged all mining activities to be formalised through the Ministry Mines and Mining Development,” she said.
“The purpose of this workshop is to sensitise our provincial gold mining taskforce on the selling of gold to Fidelity Printers and Refiners, discontinuing illegal selling of gold and promoting compliance to environmental regulations.
“We also want to encourage proper mining record keeping.
“This workshop is aligned to the transitional stabilisation programme and vision 2030 as espoused by President Mnangagwa.”
Deputy Minister Kambamura said the workshops will take place in all mining provinces until May 10.
Online Reporter