By Staff Reporter
Chegutu- Zimbabwe is stepping up efforts to formalise artisanal and small-scale miners as part of plans to increase gold production and improve safety in the mining sector.
The latest move saw 300 artisanal miners graduate in Chegutu after completing a training programme organised by Mutapa Gold Resources in partnership with the Zimbabwe School of Mines and Magaya Mining.
The programme is part of a wider initiative targeting 1,500 miners across the country. Authorities say the goal is to help small-scale miners operate legally, safely, and more productively.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony at Magandi Park, Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura said the training programme would now be rolled out nationwide.
“This is a model we want to take to all provinces so that miners are trained and supported wherever they are,” Kambamura said.
Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Minister Marian Chombo said the programme was important for the province, which has recorded several mining accidents over the years.
“This province has been receiving a lot of mine-related accidents due to lack of knowledge. This is a milestone as these trainings will reduce accidents and educate miners,” she said.
Kambamura said small-scale miners now play a major role in Zimbabwe’s gold sector, contributing most of the gold delivered to Fidelity Gold Refinery.
According to government figures, artisanal and small-scale miners produced nearly 37 tonnes of gold last year, helping Zimbabwe record one of its highest gold outputs in recent years.
Mutapa Gold Resources chief executive officer Patrick Maseva-Shayawabaya said there was now a shift in how mining companies view artisanal miners.
“Gone are the days when we saw them as enemies. We now see them as partners,” he said.
He said the company was already working with small-scale miners at some of its mining operations, including Jena Mine and Phoenix Prince Mine, where efforts are being made to integrate them into formal mining activities.
The miners were trained in areas such as mining safety, environmental protection, financial management, and proper gold processing methods.
Authorities believe formalising the sector will help reduce accidents, improve gold accountability, and make it easier for miners to access funding and equipment.
Kambamura also said the government plans to introduce mining development officers in every mining district to provide technical support and monitor mining activities.
The push to formalise artisanal mining comes as Zimbabwe looks to grow its mining sector and increase gold production, with government and mining companies now placing more focus on supporting small-scale miners instead of pushing them out of mining areas.
