More women graduate from mining school
THE Government has reaffirmed its commitment to continue supporting smallscale miners in the country as it works towards formalising and capacitating them.
The move is aimed at aiding in the country’s attainment of the US$12 billion mining industry target by 2023 in line with vision 2030. Smallscale gold miners countrywide continue to contribute a large chunk of Zimbabwe’s yellow metal production having produced over 12 tonnes of bullion in the first eight months of this year.
Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube in his 2022 mid-term review and supplementary budget indicated that the Government had reserved US$10 million for the establishment of gold centres in each province. This is to enhance small-scale miners’ performance with an ultimate objective to deliver three tonnes of gold per month.
Speaking at the Zimbabwe School of Mines (ZSM) 28th Graduation and Prizes Awards Ceremony in Bulawayo on Friday, Mines and Mining Development Deputy Minister Polite Kambamura reaffirmed Government’s support to small-scale miners.
“As we work towards formalising and capacitating the small-scale miners sector, Government is prepared to roll out funds through to capacitate and formalise the sector. The small-scale sector plays a pivotal role in terms of revenue contribution to the fiscus as evidenced by the quantities of gold that is being delivered to Fidelity Printers,” said the Deputy Minister.
He urged small-scale miners to utilise some of the courses that were being offered by institutions such as ZSM as these would aid to their formalisation in the process. Deputy Minister Kambamura said as a Ministry they were also encouraging the sector players to enroll for various courses being offered so that they acquire the much-needed technical skills.
The Deputy Minister commended the rising number of women participation in mining and urged the girl child to take up the challenge and participate in the sector. He said as a Ministry they were working to ensure they set up a fund and a desk that specifically deal with women so as to empower the girl child as well.
“This year a total of 180 students are graduating, 177 at National Diploma level and three at Higher National Diploma Level. It is pleasing to note that 32 percent of the graduates are female. This demonstrates that more and more women are entering into the mining sector which was predominantly dominated by men,” said Deputy Minister Kambamura.
In terms of youth, he said certain areas had been reserved for them with a fund to be availed soon so that they can be capacitated in their mining operations.
ZSM board chairman Mr Pfungwa Kunaka who is also the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development Permanent Secretary urged the graduates to use their intellectual capacities to increase production where they will be employed, while those who will be unemployed should think outside the box and partner with artisanal and small-scale miners.
He said together they would be able to improve the production systems and safety systems in those small operations. ZSM principal Mr Edwin Gwaze said the school continues to modernise and optimise its training equipment to ensure maintenance of high training standards.
“To ensure financial stability and diversification of revenue sources, the school has set up and is capacitating strategic business units namely ZSM Geochemical and Assaying laboratory, Environmental Monitoring Services and Drone Training Centre and Technical Services.”
Mr Gwaze said in line National Development Strategy (NDS1) they had introduced new courses this year while others would be incorporated into the system in 2023.