Chronicle Editor
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
THE Young Miners Foundation (YMF) has reaffirmed its commitment to continue empowering miners, with an academy in the pipeline to accelerate skills development and professional conduct among budding miners.
This comes at a time when reports of young small-scale and artisanal miners who lack skills are injured, trapped or die when mine shafts they will be working in collapse.
In an interview, recently appointed YMF board of Trustees chairman, Mr Talent Chitepo said they will continue to empower young people with the skills they needed to thrive, not just academically but professionally.
“A venue has already been identified in Zvishavane where we can start an academy and we are finalising on the registration. Once all is set we should be able to start on the modules and tutorials that will be undertaken by the students.
“After training the students will be awarded certificates, but these certificates should be equipping certificates similar to the ones received at vocational training centres. Lack of skills remains a major impediment to the desired growth of the mining industry, which is one of Zimbabwe’s key export sectors,” he said.
He said as a way of encouraging professionalism and proper mining entrepreneurs, the academy will be fulfilling YMF’s dream of developing 21st century young mineral magnets as a stimulus to other productive enterprises in the country.
Mr Chitepo said over the years they have learnt that mining was not just about extracting riches from the earth, but also about building the foundations of society.
“It’s about powering our homes, fuelling our industries and forging the backbone of infrastructure that connects us all. However, this critical sector faces a looming challenge, a gap threatening its very stability. This is where YMF emerges, not as a bystander, but as a revolutionary force. Our goal is to be a catalyst for youth development in mining, a dynamic engine driving innovation and inclusivity,” he added.
Mr Chitepo said economic empowerment was critical for youths in mining for them to have access to mining rights, funding and capital for meaningful participation in the mining value chain.
Mr Chitepo said they were going to champion sustainability, embrace cutting-edge technologies like automation, and encourage young minds to think outside the pit, developing solutions that are not just efficient, but responsible and future-proof.
Outlining the YMF 2024 calendar, the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Mr Payne Kupfuwa said a number of mentorship incubation and acceleration programmes and initiatives were lined up.
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