Chronicle Editor
Michael Magoronga, [email protected]
MR Ronald Mugangavari has been in the mining industry since 2012 as a small-scale operator and has been working hard to upgrade to large-scale.
The owner of Cliffton 15 Mine in Mberengwa has been doing well despite the harsh economic challenges and has been channelling his proceeds towards formalising his mining activities.
Mr Mugangavari employs about 130 workers at his three mining ventures in Mberengwa and is seeking to increase production so that he can contribute significantly to the realisation of the US$12 billion mining economy by 2023.
He is in the process of installing a new milling plant with state-of-the-art equipment including a bow mill with a capacity of processing 3 000 tonnes of gold ore per month.
Mr Mugangavari however said he is failing to complete the project due to lack of money hence he is seeking a loan.
“Right now, we applied for power to be connected and once connected we can start milling. Our biggest challenge however is lack of money to complete the installation of the plant,” he said.
Mr Mugangavari said financial institutions were demanding collateral which he did not have.
He said once the installation of the plant is complete, he will double production.
Mr Mugangavari has won various accolades including the most consistent gold supplier to Fidelity Printers, Best Young Miner during the 21st February Movement Awards as well as the recent Best Young Miner in the Midlands Province.
His exploits saw his mine becoming the venue of choice for the YMF field day, which coincided with the organisation’s 13th anniversary.
Service providers ranging from insurance, environment and Government departments linked to mining were also present to share notes with the young miners.
Excelling young miners from across the country received certificates of recognition for their professionalism and formalisation of their mining entities.
YMF chief operations officer, Mr Tafadzwa Chiramba, said the choice of the mine was meant to use Cliffton Mine as a model of how to formalise and upgrade mining activities to medium scale.
“This mine is a model that not only showcases how to upscale to medium scale but also brings in the aspect of employment creation.
This is a very big process, which is different from what we are used to using hammer mills,” said Mr Chiramba.
He said they are also looking forward to diversifying to other minerals like gemstones and lithium.
“We have a project that we are working on with various partners so that we can tap into other minerals like gemstone and lithium,” said Mr Chiramba.
He however said collateral remains a challenge for most young miners.
“We are now trying to quantify resources at a given mine and the report can the be used as collateral,” said Mr Chiramba.
YMF chief executive officer, Mr Payne Kupfuwa said the field days were meant to encourage young miners to formalise their mining activities.
He said the formalising mining activities can help small-scale miners get the much-needed capital. Mr Kupfuwa said the organisation’s collaborations with different organisations in the mining sector help to create strategic linkages.
“We are also working on empowering young women in mining who also play a key role in the development of small-scale mining,” he said.
Mines and Mining Development Minister, Winston Chitando, is on record saying the country’s mining industry has registered significant strides towards realising the ambitious US$12 billion milestone by the end of this year.
He has challenged mining entities to invest in skills development for the sustenance of the sector.
“I urge all in the mining sector to fully participate and play a part in the development of skills.
The level of skills we have in the country is because certain mining companies have accorded trade apprentices and I want to urge all your members to please take skills training as a call to ensure that you provide training,” said Minister Chitando.
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