Accomodation (0) Advertising Agencies (0) Agriculture (0) Arts and Crafts (1) Automotive (0) Boats and Marine (0) Books (0) Building and Construction (0) Business Services (0) Car Hire (0) Children (0) Clothing and Fashion (0) Computers and Internet (0) Education and Training (0) Employment and Personal (0) Entertainment (0) Finance and Insurance (0) Functions and Weddings (0) Funeral Arrangments (0) Furniture and Hardware (0) Government (0) Industrial and Manufacturing (1) Marketing & Public Relations (0) Media (0) Medical, Health and Beauty (0) Non-Profit Organisations (0) Photographers (0) Printers (0) Real Estate (0) Restaurants (0) Security (0) Shopping (0) Sports (0) Telecommunications (0) Transport (0) Travel and Tourism (0)

Small scale miners struggle to resuscitate operations

Staff Reporter 14-05-2009

Small scale miners are struggling to resuscitate operations despite an improved economic environment. Speaking to BusinessZimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Miners’ Federation, a grouping of small scale miners said they were yet to enjoy the benefits which came with an improved economic environment which has been prevailing since March.

As such, the miners are set to hold a stakeholders’ conference to be addressed by government ministers, industry partners and the small scale miners themselves.

“Some of the issues to be discussed include issues pertaining to the environment, investment into the sector, empowerment of women and youths as well as the indigenisation of the sector. This is a very important stakeholders’ conference and it is our hope that some issues which have been affecting us will be resolved and at least make us play our part in the economy,” said the Zimbabwe Miners’ Federation.

It is estimated that the small scale miners contribute to at least 10 percent of the country’s total gold deliveries. Most of the small scale operators are into gold mining which is less capital intensive and requires the minimum of skills. Whereas the miners appear to be organised, they also face a number of accusations chief being that they are they ones who fuel the black market dealings of some of the precious metals especially gold. Apart from issues of underhand dealings, the small scale miners have also been accused of destroying the environment.

It is some of these issues which makes it impossible to take the small scale miners seriously.

The Zimbabwe Miners’ Federation said they recognised these accusations and expected to have some of them addressed at the conference to be held in Kadoma next week.

“As you may be aware, we have been working with other stakeholders to make sure that the issues pertaining to the environment are addressed. We have also invited the minister of environment to at least assist us with some of the issues. It has to be acknowledged that in most countries in Africa and other third world countries, small scale miners play an important part in the economy and authories cannot just wish them away. What is needed is to make sure that the sector is regularised and make sure that loopholes are plugged to avoid any leakages,” said the Zimbabwe Miners’ Federation.