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Senior Business Reporter
SMALL-scale miners’ representative bodies have welcomed the suspension of 11 gold millers by government for failing to comply with production and marketing arrangements.The bodies also urged the government to create an enabling environment to attract miners to register and regularise their operations.
Last week, Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa said the suspension follows a compliance monitoring and enforcement operation by the Reserve Bank’s exchange control department.
He said some of the mines had been shut down for failing to keep mining records as required by law with some found guilty of engaging in illegal gold sales.
Some of the mines that were suspended include Makwe 24 Mine of Gwanda, Flora Mine of Filabusi, Huggies 10 of Kadoma and Timsite Custom Milling of Bindura.
Bulawayo Miners’ Association advisor Ishmael Kaguru said: “The move to suspend the gold millers that have been found to be flouting the regulations is welcome. People should know that there are no short cuts on rules and regulations. They should simply follow the laid down rules and procedures in order to promote the growth and development of the mining industry.”
An official from the Zimbabwe Small-scale and Artisanal Mining Council (ZASMC) who requested anonymity said: “As a council, we’re trying to do some syndication so that our members take their gold to Fidelity Printers. We’re also encouraging our members to have all their documentation to avoid unfortunate incidences.”
The official however complained that government operations such as “Chikorokoza Chapera/Isitsheketsha Sesiphelile” were not implemented effectively and alleged that there was a bias in how they were done.
He said a number of challenges were making it difficult for small-scale miners to comply with the regulations. “For example, the miners are being discouraged from regularising their operations as a result of aspects such as multiple taxation, high licence fees and lack of educational awareness and campaigns,” said the official.
Fidelity Printers and Refiners is presently the sole gold buyer and exporter of all the yellow metal produced in the country.
The government says this is the only move to boost gold reserves in the country amid concerns of leakages and smuggling of the mineral.
Online Reporter