GOVERNMENT continues to engage small-scale miners in Insiza, Matabeleland South, on the need to come up with cooperatives to achieve sustainable growth.

Filabusi, one of the fastest growing rural districts in Matabeleland South, from just being a service centre to a town board with more than 5 000 residential houses and sprouting businesses within a short space of time, is feeling the heat of unregulated illegal mining activities.

The pollution of major sources of water around the town, Mayfair, Silalabuhwa, Umzingwane, and Insiza, and the frequent violent clashes at gold rush sites have traditional leaders in the district worried.

“Sometimes it is difficult, especially with the unregulated illegal miners, they do anything you cannot think of. We wish they were regulated, as this would bring development to the areas. It would also reduce drug and substance abuse, murders, and other social vices that come with them not being regulated,” Chief Maduna said.

“As the local authority, we appreciate the contribution of small-scale miners, but they need to be regulated so that we can protect our sources of water, the environment, and infrastructure. We used to have an association, and I think it is high time we revive it,” Insiza Rural District Council Chairperson, Cde Luke Dube said.

“These places where they operate tend to be used for illegal activities, and they have become drug hotspots. They are now a law unto themselves, but once there is a law to regulate them, they can be brought into organised groups so that they can be accounted for,” Insiza South Legislator: Honourable Spare Sithole said.

“It is easier even to sponsor them and source machinery for them if they are cooperatives,” Insiza North Legislator, Honourable Delani Moyo said.

Addressing the business community, farmers, miners, councils, and traditional leaders in Filabusi at the weekend, Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Honourable Albert Nguluvhe noted the need for responsible mining.

“We are not going back on the issue of being organised, you have no option but to conform. Our environment, rivers, and dams are being polluted, and we need to organise ourselves so that we become sustainable. Yes, you contribute 40 % of gold deliveries to Fidelity, but you are still illegal miners. Why cannot you be organised? This is the only way we can get equipment to help you. Let us be organised, work together, and improve our area. This idea of wanton digging of pits across the province is not what we want; we are not growing. We should be in a position to bring development through unity of purpose,” he said.

According to ZIMSTAT, Insiza District has a population of 122 000, with mining being the major source of livelihood, followed by farming.