Financial boost for 5 000 miners

Published: 07 April 2014

Five thousand small scale miners are this month set to benefit from funding and equipment from Pact, a non-governmental organisation.

The Zimbabwe Artisanal and Small Scale Mining Council (Zasmc) president Wellington Takavarasha said Pact will fund small scale miners through a livelihoods programme and also through donation of equipment to increase production.

Takavarasha said the partnership with Pact is part of a World Bank programme for basket funding for artisanal and small scale mining in the country.

"Government has recognised the integral role that artisanal and small scale miners play in mineral extraction with a number of measures having been put in place to ensure that productivity is increased," he said.

Takavarasha said the funding was a major step in capacitating the small scale miners who require at least $400 000 for capacity building in 80 centres dotted around the country.

Mining experts say if capacity building funds were availed small scale miners would be able to produce over 20 tonnes of gold this year.

"With capacity building alone small scale miners can produce 20 tonnes but if they receive more funding, they will have the capacity to take at least 50 tonnes of gold per year to Fidelity Refiners and Printers," said Takavarasha.

The World Bank said the progress being made by small scale and artisanal miners to legalise operations and become part of formal mining system were critical in boosting gold output in the country.

The World Bank is keen to support small-scale miners become part of the formal economy.

Zasmc together with officials from government and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) are currently engaged in formal registration exercises for all small scale miners and so far 3 500 miners have been registered in Shamva and Mount Darwin.
- Zim Mail

Tags: Miners,