Mining stakeholders unite to formalise small-scale gold sector

STAKEHOLDERS in Zimbabwe’s mining sector have convened in Bulawayo for a multi-stakeholder workshop aimed at formalising artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) and strengthening collaboration with large-scale mining (LSM) companies.

The workshop, being held at a local hotel, is organised under the planetGOLD Zimbabwe project and brings together LSM companies, ASGM operators, Government ministries and development partners to co-design a pilot collaboration framework.

The initiative is expected to transform how the country’s gold sector supports vulnerable miners, while bridging the longstanding divide between formal mining operations and an estimated 1,5 million Zimbabweans who depend on artisanal and small-scale mining for their livelihoods.

Officials said the engagement marks a significant step towards piloting a collaborative formalisation model that integrates both large-scale and small-scale mining players.

The workshop also provides a platform for stakeholders to exchange practical experiences, co-design solutions and identify scalable partnership models that promote responsible, inclusive and mercury-free mining.

The planetGOLD Zimbabwe project is a five-year initiative aimed at reducing mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining while improving the health and livelihoods of mining communities.

The project is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and is being implemented by IMPACT in close coordination with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, and the Environment Management Authority (EMA).