Staff Reporter

Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development Chairperson, Edmond Mkaratigwa revealed that Government was exploring more options to formalise Artisanal and Small Scale Miners (ASM) to facilitate growth in the sector.

Speaking to miners on the Mining Zimbabwe WhatsApp platform, Mkaratigwa said that Government was rallying with three themes for ASM development.

“The three are formalisation of the ASM, Empowerment and Sustainable growth, and accessibility to the mineral resource and markets.”

Mkaratigwa said formalisation drive was set to enable ASM to tap into Government programmes and contribute to the mainstream economy hence the need for more accessible registration, then more recognition of their existence and contribution to the sector both as certificate holders and the various sub-categories in the mining process.

According to Mkaratigwa formalisation of the ASM was the first step towards empowering the sector and getting it involved in Government programs and also allow them to be granted tax holidays.

“The sector should also strengthen its structures so that we also collectively advocate and negotiate for common issues of interest,” he said.

The legislator also added that Government was coming up with initiatives to weed out mining cartels who are often misconstrued to be small scale miners as they are a threat to growth of the sector.

“These mining criminal cartels hinder the mining industry from growing for they circumvent mining laws by concurring with law enforcement workers and powerful forces. They work in cohorts with rowdy law enforcement agencies, community leaders, and for some instances ministry of mines personnel.”