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Lovemore Zigara, Midlands Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe School of Mines (ZSM) is planning to set up a training college for small-scale and artisanal miners at Musipani Business Centre in Zvishavane.
Runde Rural District Council has already allocated 20 hectares of land to ZSM for the project, which has already taken off with engineers now on the ground. Runde chief executive officer, Mr Gorden Moyo, said an incubation hub as well as a research centre for platinum group of metals will also be set up at the site.
“We have the Zimbabwe School of Mines, which wants to come and put up a training school for small-scale and artisanal miners. As council we have given them 20 hectares of land so that they could kick-start construction of the project.
“They have also indicated to us that they want to set up an incubation hub for the manufacture of small-scale mining equipment. They also want to put up a research centre for the platinum group of metals at that centre. Work is already underway as their technical people are already on the ground and we hope that project comes to fruition.”
ZSM has in the past come up with an outreach programme aimed at imparting artisanal and small-scale miners with the requisite skills to enhance their mining expertise in a bid to improve mineral handling and production. In 2013, ZSM introduced training modules outside its formal training technologies comprising various fundamentals of mining specifically tailor-made for artisanal and small-scale miners, which included geological surveying, mineral processing and administrative courses.
The institute has also introduced advanced fundamentals of a mining course, which hinges on imparting skills on how to mine in areas with unstable ground, hard rock and high levels of underground water. It has also developed modules specifically designed to suit women in mining. It also runs a mineral resource course for non-mining trained professionals.
Online Reporter