Staff Reporter
Artisanal and small-scale miners in Mashonaland West Province contributed significantly to the province’s gold production last year, delivering approximately 5 000kg of gold to Fidelity Gold Refinery.
While impressive, the province fell short of its ambitious 10 000kg target, highlighting the need for additional support to reach its full potential.
Mashonaland West Province Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Marian Chombo, expressed confidence that, with the right measures, the province could surpass the 10 000kg mark annually.
Speaking during a Zanu PF provincial coordinating committee meeting in Chinhoyi yesterday, Minister Chombo urged artisanal miners to adopt practices from larger mining firms operating in the area.
“We have other big mining firms in the province that our youths can take a leaf from. Magaya Mining in Chegutu is a successful example. It’s a model that has helped many miners formalize their operations. The model has also seen a decrease in the number of mine-related accidents while, in turn, increasing production,” said Minister Chombo.
Despite these successes, Minister Chombo acknowledged several challenges hindering gold production.
The province currently has just one cartographer managing 11 000 applications, significantly slowing down operations.
The province’s leadership has since requested more cartographers from the Public Service Commission to address this bottleneck.
Additionally, concerns over gold smuggling through the porous Beitbridge and Chirundu borders have raised alarms.
Minister Chombo called on Government authorities to intensify border security measures to curb these illicit activities and ensure all gold contributes to the formal economy.
The Minister said that the provincial leadershipremains optimistic that addressing these challenges will enhance output and positively impact Mashonaland West Province’s GDP.
Meanwhile, artisanal and small-scale miners are seen as a cornerstone of the province’s economic growth, and efforts to formalize their operations and provide adequate resources are expected to unlock their full potential.
With strengthened support systems, increased security, and the implementation of effective mining models, Mashonaland West Province is poised to become a leader in gold production, contributing significantly to Zimbabwe’s economic aspirations.
