The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube
Business Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe Mining Federation has stepped a gear up in re-organising its structures as they prepare to mechanise more artisanal and small-scale miners across the country.
Speaking on the sidelines of the federation’s Manicaland provincial elections held at Mutare Museums last week, ZMF president Ms Henrietta Rushwaya said there is need to re-organise provincial structures across the country so that the Government can chip in and mechanise the sector.
“As the Zimbabwe Miners Federation, we have seen it fit to travel around the country emphasising on having an organised small-scale mining sector. That is the only way the Government can mechanise the sector. Look at what Government has done towards mechanised farming in the agricultural sector.
“As such, I am making a clarion call on small-scale miners to increase on productivity and this can only be achieved through properly organised structures. Small-scale miners need to confine themselves within certain designated mining places.
“This will stop unscrupulous elements within our society from depriving the national fiscus of the much-needed revenue through illegal activities. This will also ensure that our people reclaim the land they would have worked on.
“Small-scale mining is a sector to reckon with and we are calling on our membership to carry out their activities in line with the Government’s expectations on issues such as environment impact assessment.
“The Environment Management Authority should be the watchdog in all our operations. We should learn to co-exist and also plant trees,” she said.
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce 2019 businesswoman of the year runner-up and miner, Ms Judith Shadaya was elected the ZMF Manicaland chairperson after garnering 43 votes and beating Mr John Chinonzwa who had two votes.
Mrs Susan Dumbura was elected a female representative in the provincial committee after she garnered 34 votes to beat Ms Maria Masimba and Ms Brenda Mambwere who had four and seven votes respectively.
In her acceptance speech, Ms Shadaya vowed to represent the miners and the province well.
“As the newly-elected Zimbabwe Miners Federation Manicaland chairperson, I am really overwhelmed by the confidence the people of Manicaland have invested in me. I will try my best to make sure that all artisanal miners are formally registered.
“We are calling upon the Government and stakeholders within Manicaland to come on board and empower artisanal and small-scale miners as well as the youths, the less privileged and the physically challenged through providing machinery, equipment and tools that can be used in the mining industry,” she said.
ZMF national treasurer, Mr Lufayi Shato said: “We expect a lot of changes from the women who are now in the mining sector as well as the new leadership,” he said.
