Online Reporter
Judith Phiri recently in Masvingo, [email protected]
YOUNG Zimbabweans are being urged to prepare themselves for bigger opportunities in the mining sector following Government’s decision to reserve small-scale gold mining for locals only. The move is expected to open more doors for indigenous Zimbabweans, particularly young people, in one of the country’s most important economic sectors.
Mining remains a major pillar of Zimbabwe’s economy, contributing significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and accounting for about 75 percent of the country’s exports.
The reserved sectors policy forms part of the Second Republic’s broader empowerment agenda under President Mnangagwa, which seeks to increase local participation in key sectors of the economy and ensure Zimbabweans benefit more from the country’s natural resources.
Government recently announced that small-scale gold mining would now be reserved exclusively for Zimbabwean citizens and citizen-owned companies, saying the country’s mineral wealth must support national development, empowerment and sustainable economic growth.
The policy is also aligned with Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), both of which place strong emphasis on inclusive economic growth, job creation, youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and value addition.
Under NDS2, Government views youth participation in productive sectors such as mining as critical in building an empowered upper middle-income economy by 2030.
Speaking during the Young Miners Foundation (YMF) @16: Great Stone Summit held in Masvingo on Saturday, Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Fred Moyo urged young people to position themselves to take advantage of the opportunities emerging in the sector.
His keynote address was delivered on his behalf by Masvingo Provincial Mining Director Mr Marshal Muzira.
“The Government of Zimbabwe, under the leadership of President Dr Mnangagwa, has promulgated a policy on reserved sectors. This is not a secret. Certain mining activities and areas are being deliberately reserved for indigenous Zimbabweans, especially the youths.
“But let me be honest with you, a reserved sector is not a charity zone. It is a readiness test. We will not give ground to people who do not know what to do with it. So, I am saying to you today, be ready to step in.
“That means having your syndicates registered, your business plans written, your environmental assessments started
and your teams trained. Do not wait for the license to fall into your lap. Prepare now, the opportunity is coming, but opportunity favours the organised,” he said.
Deputy Minister Moyo said the policy gives young people a chance to move from being job seekers to becoming mining business owners, but stressed that success would depend on organisation, skills and compliance with industry regulations.
He commended the Young Miners Foundation for helping young people organise themselves into syndicates and acquire mining rights over the past 16 years. Beyond access to claims, the Deputy Minister said skills development would be critical in ensuring that young miners operate productively and sustainably.
He warned against viewing mining as simple manual labour.
He said one cannot mine what they do not understand and he sometimes hears young people say, “mining is just digging.”
“That is simply not true. Mining is geology, metallurgy, engineering, and finance. I am pleased that YMF has partnered with the Zimbabwe School of Mines (ZSM) to train young miners in fundamentals of small-scale mining management.
“I am also encouraged that some of you have been trained in gemstone cutting and polishing. That is value addition.
That is the Second Republic’s agenda, but we need more. I want every young miner here to treat the ZSM as your second home. Learn how to read the ground. Learn how to process your ore. Learn how to manage tailings. When you acquire skills, you become irreplaceable.”
Deputy Minister Moyo encouraged young miners to take advantage of training opportunities offered by the
Zimbabwe School of Mines and other accredited institutions, saying technical knowledge would separate successful miners from failed operators.
He said a skilled young miner was a dangerous competitor in the best sense, while an unskilled young miner was a danger to both themselves and the country.
Access to finance, another major challenge facing young miners, is also receiving Government attention.
Deputy Minister Moyo said authorities were engaging banks and development finance institutions to create funding facilities specifically targeted at formalised small-scale miners. He said they have heard the cry for access to finance and it was a legitimate cry.
“You cannot mechanise with a shovel. You cannot scale up with hope. The Government is committed to extending financial support to young miners and as I speak the Ministry is engaging banks and development finance institutions to avail lines of credit specifically for formalised small-scale miners.
“But let me be clear, we will extend financial support thereafter, and by ‘thereafter,’ I mean after you have shown us that you are formalised, that you have the skills, that you respect the law and that you have a viable operation. No responsible lender gives money to chaos.”
The Deputy Minister also urged young miners to operate responsibly and comply with mining laws, environmental regulations and safety standards. He warned that accidents in mining remain a serious concern and called for stronger attention to safety practices at mine sites.
“Every cave-in, every tunnel collapse, every mercury poisoning is unacceptable and all these are avoidable. Let me give you a simple rule, if it is not safe, do not do it. Train your team on basic safety, wear personal protective equipment, do not send people into unstable ground and have first aid kits. Get trained in emergency procedures,” he said.
He said the summit theme, “Honouring Legacy, Shaping a Sustainable Mining Future”, reflected Zimbabwe’s commitment to protecting the gains of the liberation struggle while creating opportunities for future generations.
The Deputy Minister said it was important for young people to become active participants in the growth and development of the mining sector rather than remaining spectators.
Zimbabwe has more than 40 exploitable minerals, including gold, platinum group metals, lithium and chrome, creating significant opportunities for youth participation across the mining value chain.
