The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
THE Zimbabwe School of Mines (ZSM) is expecting to introduce nine new courses next year, which are critical in building the capacity of human capital within the mining industry to meet the US$12 billion target in line with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1).
Speaking at the ZMS 27th blended graduation and awards ceremony on Friday, the institution’s principal Mr Edwin Gwaze said the programmes are undergoing curriculum development and accreditation processes at Higher Education Examinations Council (HEXCO). The courses include Diploma in Mining Engineering: Shaft Timberman, Executive Diploma in Mine Management, Certificate in Small Scale Management, Advanced Certificate in Mineral Engineering and Certificate in Mineral Resource Valuation. The other courses are Higher Diploma in Oil and Gas Engineering, Certificate in Gemology, Certificate in Jewellery Manufacturing and Design, and Certificate in Strategic Mine Planning.
Mr Gwaze said the school has survived the Civid-19 pandemic due to the immeasurable support from the industry in particular the Government through the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe and many other stakeholders in the mining and other sectors.
“These students were taught mainly online, with limited face to face due to the Covid-19 pandemic which prevailed in the greater part of 2020 academic year. Blended diploma courses were rolled out for mining cadets in the disciplines of Mining, Geology, Metallurgy and Mine Surveying with 60 being enrolled in 2021. The total enrolment constituted 1 114 students.”
Mr Gwaze said ZSM was struggling to attach students due to the effects of Covid-19 as several mining companies reduced the number of students they were taking for internship. He said 231 (54 percent) students were attached, while 193 have failed to get places for internship.
“The school is appealing to the medium scale mines to absorb students for attachment, an area which has potential to absorb students if utilised fully. The school will continue to appeal to bigger mines to change their stance on student’s attachments as the spread of the pandemic eases,” added Mr Gwaze.
A total of 166 graduated at National Diploma Level and nine with the Higher National Diploma. Females constituted 35 percent of the 2021 graduates compared to 34 percent in 2020. The best overall National Diploma Student prize went to Raymond Mazibuko who walked away with a cash prize, floating shield, personal shield, floating trophy and certificate of merit.
Eve Zhou walked away with the best National Diploma female student, while Mazibuko was awarded the best National Diploma male student, with Prince Kunaka being awarded the second best overall student and Tawanda Mushayi third best overall student. Kundai Makunike scooped the overall best Higher National Diploma prize which included a floating trophy, personal shield and a floating shield.
Speaking at the same occasion, Association of Gold Producers of Zimbabwe president, Mr Qhubeka Nkomo, on behalf of Chamber of Mines Zimbabwe president Mr Collin Chibafa said the Covid-19 global pandemic has impacted the Zimbabwean mining industry by way of lives and value of production.
He said the Zimbabwean mining industry was facing significant head wind with inadequate foreign exchange allocations, loss of value on the surrender portion of export revenues and electricity outages impacting adversely on moral and performance.
“It is not very encouraging to be graduating at a time when the mining industry is performing below its potential resulting in limited recruitment across the industry. However, there are some signs of hope with the reduction in the rate of inflation having been recorded in the recent past. The Minister of Finance has indicated that the country is expected to record the targeted inflation of nine percent by end of the year.”
