The Sunday News
Nqobizitha Dhlamini Business Reporter
SMALL to medium scale miners’ representatives are set to visit China by next month to purchase equipment under a Government facilitated programme which will see machinery worth more than $100 million being procured to aid miners boost production.Zimbabwe Mining Federation vice president Mr Morgan Moyo told Sunday Business that Government had promised to release part of the $100 million for procuring the equipment and now his organisation was compiling the list of machinery miners need to be bought from the Asian country.
“We are currently identifying what the miners need the most so that we are in a better position to buy what is needed.
“We are also in the process of compiling their numbers so we have a detailed report,” he said.
Mr Moyo said miners were happy over the prospects of new machinery and would complement the gesture by increasing production.
“The moment the miners get the equipment, we are very positive that production will go up. Small-scale miners are many hence have the capacity to increase production.”
The miners have complained over lack of modern equipment to boost production especially during the rainy season when most shafts are flooded.
“We were greatly affected in previous years as the mining pits were flooded with water and most of the miners did not have proper machines to pump out water and resume production.
In 2013, production at many mines was halted for four months as efforts to rectify the situation were in progress and this meant that some people’s source of income was suspended for all those months. Despite assistance from our parent ministry, setbacks were still experienced, therefore, we intend to purchase pumps, excavators, compressors, generators to name but a few that will reduce the workload of the miners.”
He said his organisation was also planning to conduct workshops to create awareness on safety precautions and the correct use of the machinery.
“The Zimbabwe School of Mines had promised to include the small-scale miners in their programmes hence we have been encouraging more miners to go for the courses. We will also conduct workshops that will help the miners understand the machinery so as to ensure effective use,” he said.
According to a World Bank report, artisan and small- scale mining occurs in approximately 80 countries worldwide and there are approximately 100 million artisanal miners globally.
They accounts for the supply of 80 percent global sapphire, 20 percent of gold mining and up to 20 percent of diamond mining.
It is widespread in developing countries in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Central and South America.
Although the informal nature and un-mechanised operations result in low productivity, the sector represents an important livelihood and income source for the poverty affected local population.
