THE Young Miners Foundation (YMF) wants the formalisation and professionalisation of small-scale mining to make a more meaningful contribution to the sector.
Currently, small-scale miners contribute an estimated 60% of all mining activities in Zimbabwe.
In March, Fidelity Gold Refinery reported that small-scale miners delivered 1 864.957kg of gold, compared to 928.817kg from large-scale miners.
“It is part of our programming and our activities to educate all the communities of the country on the formalisation and professionalisation of small-scale mining,” YMF chief executive officer Payne Kupfuwa told NewsDay Business in an interview.
“While we talk about formalisation, we hinge much on sustainability as the future of this country because sustainability also brings growth.
“Sustainability also brings stability in the industry because we are dealing with young people who are looking for ways to secure meaningful business enterprises.”
He said YMF’s mandate was to make small-scale mining a formal business, not a poverty-driven scheme.
Kupfuwa highlighted the vast opportunities available for young people, emphasising the need for seminars and workshops to educate them on professionalism and formalisation for sustainability.
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“There’s an opportunity in mining where young people can actually establish a foothold if they approach it from a formalised and professional perspective,” Kupfuwa said.
“The seminars, workshops and training that we organise as YMF are designed to educate those who want to enter mining, encouraging them to approach it as a business rather than a poverty-driven initiative.”
He added: “For those already in mining, we aim to ensure they run their operations formally and professionally, allowing their mines to grow and create employment for graduates from the Zimbabwe School of Mines, Midlands State University and other mining-related programmes.”
He emphasised that both skilled and unskilled young people need formalisation that hinges on sustainability, as the industry had the potential to create significant employment opportunities, enhance efficiency and contribute to economic growth.
“As long as we have many young people participating in mining formally, we will see an increase in export receipts due to participation in value-addition and beneficiation of those minerals, leading to jewellery production,” Kupfuwa said.
