Story by Theophilus Chuma
MUTAPA Gold Resources, one of the mineral entities under Mutapa Investment Fund, is moving to consolidate gold production through a strategic partnership with the artisanal and small-scale mining sector.
The Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Sector is lauded as the backbone supporting national gold production, contributing at least 60 percent of the annual output of the yellow metal.
To support its growth, Government has introduced a range of incentives and policies aimed at formalising the sector and promoting responsible and traceable mining practices.
Mutapa Gold Resources Chief Executive Officer, Mr Patrick Shayawabaya, said the company is currently implementing the model at Elvington Mine.
“There is a mine that ceased operations in 2004. It is one of the projects we intend to resuscitate once exploration work is complete. In the interim, we identified an opportunity to partner with artisanal miners to extract near-surface gold ores, which are accessible through shallow underground mining,” he said.
Mr Shayawabaya said the initiative has already begun to yield positive results.
“On average, we are producing between 20 and 30 kilogrammes of gold per month from artisanal mining activities at Elvington, all of which is sold to Fidelity Gold Refinery. This demonstrates that artisanal mining can be both viable and profitable when properly managed,” he said.
The company plans to replicate the model at Jena Mine as part of efforts to scale up production.
Working in partnership with the Zimbabwe School of Mines, the initiative also seeks to equip artisanal miners with modern mining and processing techniques.
Zimbabwe School of Mines Principal, Mr Edwin Gwaze, said the programme is designed to improve efficiency and promote professionalism within the sector.
“Many artisanal miners are still using outdated methods, which limit production. Through this initiative, we are introducing modern techniques to enhance productivity, while also encouraging miners to manage their operations as sustainable businesses,” he said.
Experts say such collaborative efforts are critical in ensuring Zimbabwe derives maximum value from its mineral resources while promoting sustainable and responsible mining practices.
