Calls for the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale gold miners took centre stage at the ongoing Chamber of Mines Annual Mining Conference in Victoria Falls, with stakeholders urging authorities to accelerate efforts to integrate the sector into the formal economy.
Speaking during a panel discussion, Ghana Chamber of Mines Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Kenneth Ashigbey, called on governments across Africa to incorporate artisanal miners into mining value chains. He said formalisation would help curb gold leakages, improve transparency, and enhance revenue generation, while stressing that the process should be accompanied by measures that empower miners economically.
Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) President Henrietta Rushwaya told delegates that Zimbabwe has more than two million artisanal miners. She revealed that ZMF, in partnership with Fidelity Printers and Refiners, is undertaking a nationwide registration exercise aimed at bringing small scale miners into the formal sector.
Rushwaya, however, expressed concern that nearly 90 percent of small-scale gold miners are operating illegally, a situation she said continues to undermine efforts to maximise the sector’s contribution to the economy, access to financing and safety of the miners. She emphasised the need for a consolidated mining model that would improve compliance, productivity and access to markets for small-scale operators.
Meanwhile, Miners for Economic Development representative Edmund Kucherera said their organisation had developed a blueprint designed to curb gold leakages and strengthen accountability within small scale miners. He said the framework seeks to enhance formal gold deliveries while ensuring that artisanal miners benefit from structured support and sustainable mining practices.
The Conference, being held under the theme “Unlock Value, Maximise Benefits and Sustain Growth,” brought together local and international mining stakeholders to discuss strategies for strengthening Zimbabwe’s mining industry and unlocking greater value from the country’s mineral resources.
