The Sunday News
Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Business Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) has invited the Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Winston Chitando, on a familiarisation tour of artisanal and small-scale miners’ operations to enable him to appreciate the myriad of challenges they are facing.
ZMF acting president Mr Ishmael Kaguru said the tour of mining operations in Insiza District, Matabeleland South Province by Minister Chitando was the first of the outreach programmes that have been lined up by the organisation as it moves to ensure Government capacitates small-scale miners for improved production.
“We are going to tour gold mining operations in the Filabusi area with the Minister during the ZITF (Zimbabwe International Trade Fair) period where we are going to visit Lion West Service Centre situated in that area. We want the minister to appreciate how small-scale miners operate including the challenges that hamper their production.
“The reason we are taking the minister to this service centre is solely to enlighten him how an individual has managed to assist numerous miners taking into cognisance that the Government has long intended to come up with such a model in every gold mining district to no avail. We are, however, aware of the financial constraints the Government is facing,” said Mr Kaguru.
Lion West Service Centre is owned by Mr Leonard Ndlovu and has eight stamp mills used for the processing of gold ore from hundreds of artisanal and small-scale miners around Insiza.
A gold service centre is an establishment where all the functions related to gold mining — from extracting to processing and sales — are co-ordinated from. A typical gold service centre would comprise a clinic, offices of the Government’s official gold-buying firm Fidelity and firms that sell or hire mining equipment.
The centres will offer such services as gold milling, collection points and assists with environmental impact assessments.
Geologists, engineers and metallurgists will also be stationed at such centres.
“We are going to visit one of the most successful miners, Mr Khumbulani Nkomo who has managed to significantly grow his mining operation, having started processing his ore at Lion West Service Centre.
We also envisage a situation whereby this milling centre should be equipped with machinery such as compressors and water pumps to enable them to enhance production,” he said.
Mr Nkomo is the owner of Epoch 17 Mine and was the winner of the best gold miner at the inaugural gold sector awards that were hosted by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development last year.
He mills about 20 tonnes of gold ore a day, producing an average of about 1,5 kilogrammes (kgs) of gold per month and employs more than 120 people.
Minister Chitando would then tour Flora Mine, which is owned by Mr Peter Dlamini, which was recently funded under the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s Gold Development Fund and has capacity to produce an average of five kilogrammes per month.
Thereafter he is expected to address artisanal and small-scale miners at the officially opening of Progress Mine, which is owned by Mr Farai Taruvinga. Progress Mines produces an average of 15 kilogrammes a month and employs 250 people.
ZMF spokesperson Mr Dosman Mangisi said the visit by Minister Chitando would give artisanal and small-scale miners a chance to raise their grievances.
“There are a number of issues of concern that are happening in this region (Matabeleland). There are issues of dispute as well as claims of maladministration at the ministry’s offices that have been raised by the miners. So all these would be tabled to the minister including how best things can be made in the mining sector,” he said.
Meanwhile, ZMF is expected to hold elections within the next two months to usher in a new executive.
“This is the end of the term for the incumbent executive so in May and in June we are expecting to hold elections to choose next office bearers so any association to participate it must be fully affiliated including its members and this brings about democracy and those that intend to stand for any post at ZMF are free to do so as long as they meet the requirements as stated in the constitution,” said Mr Mangisi.
ZMF was formed in 2003 with 23 associations ratifying its constitution. However, most of the associations are said to be in arrears with regards to payment of various fees.
“Membership subscriptions have been very poor as associations completely neglected that aspect. However, we appreciate and value their long standing support and contribution and passion to ZMF and to artisanal and small-scale mining activities,” said Mr Mangisi.
He further said: “If all associations are affiliated and bring their database it helps us for proper management and coming up with proper mechanisms for empowerment.” -@DNsingo
