adminMidlands Bureau
Small-scale miners in the Midlands Province have bemoaned prevailing fuel shortages saying they had impacted negatively on their production. Shurugwi Small-Scale Miners’ Association chair Mr Jairos Ngoni said the situation had been worsened by the fact that some garages in the Midlands had misinterpreted Energy and Power Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo’s statement on fuel containers and were not accepting jerry-cans and other containers.
“We have a serious challenge especially here in the Midlands Province. Most garages do not allow jerry-cans and containers, they will tell you the minister issued a statement which banned the use of containers to carry fuel which is not true. Most of us are stranded now, we don’t have fuel to use in our operations and we have suspended production,” he said.
Zimbabwe Miners Federation chair Mr Makumba Nyenje confirmed the development, saying the situation was dire.
“We have a lot of mining equipment which is now idle because there is no fuel. We appeal to Government to assist us in this regard because the country badly needs foreign currency so we cannot afford to have our small-scale miners failing to produce because they have no fuel,” he said.
“Miners in Shurugwi and Zvishavane have to travel to either Gweru or Kwekwe in search of fuel. Garages in Shurugwi and Zvishavane have gone for months now without fuel.”
Online Reporter