THE Zimbabwe Miners Federation has welcomed the official recognition of artisanal and small- scale mining in the recently gazetted Mines and Minerals Bill, noting the sector can become a bigger player in the mining industry through formalisation.
Recognition of artisanal and small-scale miners, is one of the key positives that have been applauded by the sector, which they say will unlock their access to critical grants that will aid their development.
“We welcome the recognition that has been given to the sector under the gazetted Mines and Minerals Bill, as this will assist us as a sector to receive grants which we can utilise for our sector. Currently we are not getting grants from because government always came back to us and say we are not recognised by an Act of Parliament. Once we are recognised when it comes to issues of sustainable mining we will have designated areas were we will be operating from. This will also lead to traceability of production,” she said.
The sector has also highlighted some key areas to be reconsidered within the bill.
“The key reforms that must be looked into are simplifying mining titles, were the Bill reduces the mining titles to three classes. We also have environmental responsibility issues, prospecting regulations, we also need to clarify on the issue of strategic minerals, the high costs of licences, environmental certification and compliance among others,” CEO – Zimbabwe Miners Federation, Mr Wellington Takavarasha said.
The federation is now preparing think-tanks from within the sector as they prepare for a comprehensive review meeting to be convened next week.
“These issues need to be addressed. We going to focus on technical issues that are connected to artisanal and small scale mining operations in particular the issue of formalisation and the three tier system,” Mr Takavarasha said.
The meeting is part of the pivotal processes that will afford the sector to announce key issues for reconsideration before the bill goes to parliament.
After years of delays, experts say the Mines and Minerals Bill is set to modernise the country’s mining legislation, replacing the out-dated Mines and Mining Act crafted in 1961.
