The Zimbabwe Artisanal Miners Association (ZAMA), in partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, has conducted a training programme for persons living with disabilities (PWDs) in Bulawayo, to equip them with knowledge and practical skills in artisanal and small-scale mining.
The initiative is part of efforts to promote inclusion and expand economic opportunities for persons with disabilities in Zimbabwe’s mining sector.
ZAMA Coordinator for Matabeleland South Province, Sethukile Ndlovu, said the programme aims to empower PWDs with practical knowledge about small-scale mining while guiding them on how to form and register mining cooperatives.
“Many persons living with disabilities are often excluded from economic opportunities and development programmes, making it essential to create deliberate platforms that enable them to participate in productive sectors such as mining,” he said.
Ndlovu said the training also helps participants understand how to organise themselves into cooperatives so they can operate legally and productively.
Participants were introduced to the structure and management of mining cooperatives, including the roles of management, supervisory and technical committees responsible for overseeing operations.
The programme also covered the legal framework governing cooperatives under the Cooperatives Act Chapter 24:05, as well as guidance on completing registration forms, drafting by-laws and mobilising start-up funds through joining fees, shareholding contributions and subscription fees.
Officials from the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development who attended the programme also expressed support for Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, saying it presents an opportunity to empower miners and strengthen the rights of artisanal miners.
“We want to see a future where artisanal miners are empowered, supported and able to contribute meaningfully to the country’s economy,” said Bothwell Mushanduri.
The training forms part of ZAMA’s broader efforts to formalise artisanal mining and support vulnerable groups to participate meaningfully in Zimbabwe’s mining sector.
