Business Reporter

WOMEN in mining have appealed for more Government support on exploration projects that will unlock more business value from their claims as well as connecting their operations with electricity supplies.

Contributing during a plenary session under the National Development Strategy (NDS1) outreach workshop held in Bulawayo on Wednesday, Ms Sibonile Ngwenya, who spoke on behalf of small-scale women miners said lack of exploration limits their capacity to produce more minerals.

She also noted that most of their operations were not connected to power, which forces miners to use costly generators when pumping out water.

Ms Ngwenya said despite making applications for connection by the power utility, the process was taking long and frustrating their members.

“I work under Bubi Small Scale Miners Association. We’re appealing for electricity connection to our claims since our operations need electricity because we work in areas where we need to continuously pump out water,” she said.

“If we get electricity connection, it will improve our production as well as reduce the cost of doing business because, as we speak, we are using generators.

“We’re also appealing for the Government to assist us as women in mining through exploration as we don’t have enough resources. It costs us more as we end up mining anywhere without knowing if there is anything or not.”

Ms Ngwenya also said as women miners they struggle to reach their production targets as they lack adequate equipment, which is expensive to buy.

“We end up hiring machines like compressors and we work under guess work without knowing exactly if we are going to get any significant output. So, sometimes we end up working for losses,” she said.

“We’re also appealing to the Government to assist with training as most of the miners are there because of poverty and yet without any proper skills and knowledge required for safety and sustainable mining.

“We want to be able to avoid injuries and loss of lives as women in mining always use wrong methods of mining due to lack of knowledge.”

Responding to the concerns, Finance and Economic Development Deputy Minister, Clemence Chiduwa, said the Government was committed to fully support the small-scale miners as they are delivering more gold to Fidelity Printers and Refiners than primary producers.

“At least 62 percent of gold being delivered to Fidelity is from small scale miners and the big guys are contributing 38 percent. So, there is total support and we’re recognising you,” he said.

“You’ll see that you have got the full support of the Government, what I would like to say is that we have got the Special Drawing Rights from the IMF and, as part of Government to show that we support you, we’ve set aside US$10 million for the setting up of gold centres.”

Deputy Minister Chiduwa said a gold centre is a one-stop-shop where miners will be able to get all the required equipment and a milling machine including offices to buy gold.

“I want to assure you that the support is there from the Government,” he said.
Small to medium scale miners continue to lead the pack in terms of production volumes after they delivered a cumulative 19,98 tons of gold from January to October up from 12,95 tons last year.

Large scale primary gold producing firms on one hand have delivered 9,47 tons compared to 9,07 tons during the same period last year.

Deputy Minister Chiduwa said small-scale miners support President Mnangagwa’s vision of achieving an upper middle-income economy through employment creation hence they deserve Government’s full support. — @SikhulekelaniM1

Business Reporter

WOMEN in mining have appealed for more Government support on exploration projects that will unlock more business value from their claims as well as connecting their operations with electricity supplies.

Contributing during a plenary session under the National Development Strategy (NDS1) outreach workshop held in Bulawayo on Wednesday, Ms Sibonile Ngwenya, who spoke on behalf of small-scale women miners said lack of exploration limits their capacity to produce more minerals.

She also noted that most of their operations were not connected to power, which forces miners to use costly generators when pumping out water.

Ms Ngwenya said despite making applications for connection by the power utility, the process was taking long and frustrating their members.

“I work under Bubi Small Scale Miners Association. We’re appealing for electricity connection to our claims since our operations need electricity because we work in areas where we need to continuously pump out water,” she said.

“If we get electricity connection, it will improve our production as well as reduce the cost of doing business because, as we speak, we are using generators.

“We’re also appealing for the Government to assist us as women in mining through exploration as we don’t have enough resources. It costs us more as we end up mining anywhere without knowing if there is anything or not.”

Ms Ngwenya also said as women miners they struggle to reach their production targets as they lack adequate equipment, which is expensive to buy.

“We end up hiring machines like compressors and we work under guess work without knowing exactly if we are going to get any significant output. So, sometimes we end up working for losses,” she said.

“We’re also appealing to the Government to assist with training as most of the miners are there because of poverty and yet without any proper skills and knowledge required for safety and sustainable mining.

“We want to be able to avoid injuries and loss of lives as women in mining always use wrong methods of mining due to lack of knowledge.”

Responding to the concerns, Finance and Economic Development Deputy Minister, Clemence Chiduwa, said the Government was committed to fully support the small-scale miners as they are delivering more gold to Fidelity Printers and Refiners than primary producers.

“At least 62 percent of gold being delivered to Fidelity is from small scale miners and the big guys are contributing 38 percent. So, there is total support and we’re recognising you,” he said.

“You’ll see that you have got the full support of the Government, what I would like to say is that we have got the Special Drawing Rights from the IMF and, as part of Government to show that we support you, we’ve set aside US$10 million for the setting up of gold centres.”

Deputy Minister Chiduwa said a gold centre is a one-stop-shop where miners will be able to get all the required equipment and a milling machine including offices to buy gold.

“I want to assure you that the support is there from the Government,” he said.
Small to medium scale miners continue to lead the pack in terms of production volumes after they delivered a cumulative 19,98 tons of gold from January to October up from 12,95 tons last year.

Large scale primary gold producing firms on one hand have delivered 9,47 tons compared to 9,07 tons during the same period last year.

Deputy Minister Chiduwa said small-scale miners support President Mnangagwa’s vision of achieving an upper middle-income economy through employment creation hence they deserve Government’s full support. — @SikhulekelaniM1