The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
YOUTHS are key in achieving the objectives of Vision 2030 and they can only do so if they stand united against destructive forces and defend the country at all costs.
The national unity ushered in by the signing of the Unity Accord between Zanu-PF and PF-Zapu on 22 December 1987 has grown beyond the political parties, to incorporate all Zimbabweans.
Youths, the beneficiaries of the agreement (Unity Accord), say they stand obligated to further the culture of peace in whatever they do.
An organisation that aims to encourage and advance youth participation in more mechanised mining operations, Young Miners Foundation (YMF) chief executive officer (CEO) Mr Payne Kupfuwa said the Unity Day meant a lot to them as youths.
“As YMF the Unity Day means a lot to us as it is an epitome of oneness and a great example of progress. In line with this year’s theme: ‘United Towards Vision 2030’ it is in sync with our aim as young miners to positively contribute to the realisation of a US$12 billion mining economy target which should see Zimbabwe edging closer to the goal of being an upper-middle income country by 2030,” said Mr Kupfuwa.
He said as an organisation established in 2010 to advance and upscale youth entrepreneur participation in mining, they were visibly present in every province and working with all youth miners.
Mr Kupfuwa said with members in all the provinces, they were enjoying the different perspectives, approaches, opportunities in mining as they journeyed towards their vision of developing young small-scale miners into commercialised medium or large-scale miners.
He added: “The future of the young miners dream is to create 21st century young mineral magnets as a stimulus to other productive enterprises. YMF continues to propagate transformation of small-scale mining into a more formal, responsible, environmentally friendly mining operations.
It remains our conviction therefore that small-scale mining should not be taken as a poverty driven initiative but a proper business enterprise as we move towards Vision 2030 of an upper middle-income economy.”
Mr Kupfuwa said they were working very hard to meet the target of developing 100 small-scale mines from small to medium-scale by 2025 and they had identified places and small gold mining projects which they are registering so that they could be assisted in the growth trajectory.
He said they were engaging different partners such as the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) and the Zimbabwe School of Mines (ZSM) to train the miners.
Mr Kupfuwa said: “Our aim is to set up structures that are consistent for growth. We are also partnering with key financier stakeholders such as Empower Bank and Cernic Finance Group among other key stakeholders in the mining sector to ensure that we put all our heads together to attain the Vision 2030.”
YMF co-patron responsible for Young Women Affairs, Mrs Anna Mupawaenda said the Unity Day was a perfect time to celebrate the spirit of oneness and togetherness.
“As you are aware women had often been sidelined in the male dominated mining industry. As we celebrate Unity Day 2021: United Towards Vision 2030, we celebrate the spirit of oneness and co-operation of women in all aspects of the economy. Women’s contribution is very important in growing the national economy,” said Mrs Mupawaenda.
She said during the Wenela mining days, women would be left behind in mining but now they were breaking barriers and making up a great percentage of the miners.
