Small-scale gold miners target 60-tonnes
STAFF WRITER
Zimbabwe’s small-scale gold miners are aiming to more than double their annual output to a historic 60 tonnes this year, up from 28 tonnes last year.
The sector, which already contributes 65 percent of national gold deliveries, is pushing for the establishment of a dedicated miners’ bank to overcome financing hurdles.
“We need a dedicated mining industry loan fund to help miners quickly develop and expand operations. Unfortunately, commercial banks are not user-friendly to small-scale miners,” said Junior Chamber of Mines Zimbabwe (JCMZ) secretary general, Dosman Mangisi.
He emphasized that targeted support is essential, stating, “If we can have a miners’ bank that understands our business model, it will go a long way in growing the sector.”
Miners also cite expired Exclusive Prospecting Orders (EPOs) as a constraint. Despite these challenges, the JCMZ is forging strategic partnerships for technical support and bulk fuel supplies to reduce costs and boost productivity.
