By Elvis Dumba
Mashonaland West — Artisanal and small-scale miners in Mashonaland West delivered approximately 5,000kg of gold to Fidelity Gold Refinery last year, playing a key role in the province’s gold production.
However, the province fell short of its ambitious target of 10,000kg, as confirmed by Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Marian Chombo, in a recent report presented to the ZANU PF Provincial Coordinating Committee in Chinhoyi.
Despite the shortfall, Minister Chombo expressed optimism that with the right support, local miners could easily surpass the 10,000kg mark annually.
“With better resources and guidance, artisanal miners have the potential to double this figure,” she said, underscoring the province’s rich gold-producing potential.
Chombo pointed to Magaya Mining in Chegutu as a prime example of success, where formalized mining practices have led to a significant reduction in accidents and increased output.
“Magaya Mining’s model has been transformative, encouraging formalization and boosting both safety and production,” she remarked.
However, the province continues to face challenges, including a shortage of cartographers. Currently, only one cartographer is available to handle over 11,000 applications, which has led to delays in mining operations.
In addition, concerns about gold smuggling through porous borders remain a significant issue, undermining the province’s efforts to maximize its gold output.
To address these challenges, Minister Chombo announced that the provincial government has requested additional cartographers from the Public Service Commission to help streamline operations.
The government is hopeful that resolving these issues will contribute positively to the province’s GDP and align with national development goals set for 2030.
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