Amos Mpofu [email protected]
A LUSHONGWE-Makwe-based gold miner in Gwanda, Matabeleland South province, Mr Lenn Morton Ndebele, has introduced an initiative aimed at widening access to mining opportunities for surrounding communities, particularly people who cannot afford to acquire their own mining claims.
Through the Zimbabwe Gold Investment Hub (ZIGIH), Mr Ndebele is providing community members with access to mining equipment and the opportunity to work within his authorised and pegged mining premises, enabling them to earn a livelihood without operating in unregistered or unallocated areas.
The initiative has been welcomed by villagers in the Makwe area, with women, men and young people who spoke to Zimpapers at Mr Ndebele’s Horn 27 Mine yesterday describing it as a significant opportunity for people who lack the financial resources to secure their own mining claims.
The project also follows an eight-year struggle by Mr Ndebele to protect his mining operations from illegal miners who have repeatedly encroached on his claims. He has also won a legal battle to take back some of his claims from some miners who had used unorthodox means to gain access to them.
Despite the challenges, he said he remained committed to using his mining activities not only to sustain his livelihood but also to uplift disadvantaged members of the surrounding community.
Speaking to Zimpapers at Horn 27 Mine, Mr Ndebele said the idea was born out of his desire to give back to the community by making mining more accessible to ordinary people.
“I sat down and thought about how I could give back to the community, especially after the struggles I have endured over the past eight years, during which illegal miners repeatedly encroached on my mining premises and stolen ore. I felt it was worthwhile to make mining more accessible and efficient for community members who cannot afford to acquire or peg their own claims. We assist them with equipment and allow them to mine freely within our authorised premises,” he said.
Mr Ndebele said the initiative was driven by a desire to improve livelihoods rather than exploit the circumstances of disadvantaged people.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Sibusisiwe Sibanda, described the programme as a lifeline, saying it had helped her provide for the eight nephews under her care.
She said life had been difficult before joining the initiative, as she had relied on informal and less productive open-cast mining along riverbanks to support her family.
“We are grateful because life was difficult for us before this programme. We used to engage in open-cast mining along riverbanks, which was unreliable and very challenging. Now we have access to machinery provided by Mr Ndebele, enabling us to practise more efficient mining methods. I have eight nephews under my care, and I am doing my best to provide them with food, as they are no longer attending school due to financial constraints. This initiative is helping me put food on the table for them, and we truly appreciate it,” she said.
Mrs Sibanda added that the programme had given beneficiaries greater security and freedom to pursue mining activities without the constant fear of being evicted and arrested for operating in areas where they did not hold mining rights.
Another beneficiary, Mr Revolution Dube, said the initiative could help address drug and substance abuse, as well as theft, by keeping young people productively engaged and providing opportunities to earn an honest living.
“We would probably end up resorting to stealing if this opportunity had not come our way. We are grateful to Mr Ndebele, who has provided us with the resources and equipment we are using here. We do not have the financial means to acquire and peg our own claims, so this opportunity means a lot to us,” he said.
The project manager, Ms Gelly Dube, who is Mr Ndebele’s partner, said the initiative was particularly important to her because of its potential to empower women struggling to provide for their families.
She said many women were determined to improve their circumstances but lacked access to suitable working spaces and the equipment required to earn a living.
“My heart is particularly with mothers who are struggling to provide for their children. Many of them were disadvantaged because they did not have places to work or the equipment needed to earn a living,” she said.
“We have provided some of the resources they need, although we recognise that there is still more to be done. We want to empower these women to stand on their own and provide for their children. We appreciate that these women are determined to support their families, contribute to their households and help improve their communities,” she said.
Mr Ndebele said ZIGIH was also designed as a digital coordination platform to improve the visibility, organisation and mobilisation of mining opportunities in Zimbabwe.
He said the platform focused on identifying and structuring idle, underutilised or expired mining assets and transforming them into clearly defined, investment-ready opportunities.
It also seeks to establish a centralised information system connecting miners, investors and relevant authorities, while organising project-level information to make opportunities more accessible and easier to evaluate.
Mr Ndebele emphasised that ZIGIH was not a regulatory authority or licensing body and did not control mining assets. Instead, it was intended to complement existing Government systems by improving the organisation and accessibility of mining opportunities without replacing established regulatory structures.
Mr Ndebele called on stakeholders in the mining sector to embrace initiatives that promote inclusivity, improve efficiency and create economic opportunities for disadvantaged communities, particularly those living in mining areas.
