By A Correspondent -The Government has unveiled an ambitious programme to train and license about 600,000 artisanal and small-scale miners as part of efforts to reduce fatal mining accidents, improve compliance with safety standards and formalise one of Zimbabwe’s biggest gold-producing sectors.

Authorities say the initiative is designed to ensure miners acquire the technical knowledge and safety skills required to operate responsibly, with licensing expected to be tied to successful completion of accredited training.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Dr Thomas Utete Wushe, said the programme is central to Government plans to transform the artisanal and small-scale mining sector, which currently contributes more than 60 percent of the country’s gold output.

“The strategy focuses on environmental rehabilitation, mine safety enforcement and financial inclusion for miners,” said Dr Wushe.
The programme comes against the backdrop of repeated mining disasters that have claimed lives across Zimbabwe, with many accidents linked to unsafe mining practices, unstable shafts and operations conducted without proper training or protective equipment.

Government is also considering making the Certificate in Principles of Responsible Small-Scale Mining, offered by the Zimbabwe School of Mines, a compulsory qualification for anyone seeking to obtain or renew a small-scale mining licence.

According to Dr Wushe, embedding the qualification into mining legislation would ensure that only trained operators are allowed to conduct mining activities.

Alongside the training programme, the Ministry is reviewing mining laws through the proposed Mines and Minerals Bill, which seeks to simplify regulatory requirements for small-scale miners while modernising the country’s mining framework.

“A major part of the formalisation drive is the overhaul of the legal framework to make compliance easier and more accessible for artisanal and small-scale operators. The ministry has gazetted the new Mines and Minerals Bill to modernise the mining regulatory framework,” he said.

He added that proposed reforms include streamlining claim registration procedures and improving the way mining disputes are handled.
Government has also intensified efforts to combat illegal mining and mineral smuggling, particularly involving gold and lithium, through tighter border surveillance, stronger coordination among law enforcement agencies and harsher penalties for offenders.

Police have been deployed to protect rivers and other environmentally sensitive areas from illegal riverbed mining, while machinery used in unlawful operations has been seized.

“In a decisive move, State authorities have deployed police to protect rivers and other environmentally sensitive areas from illegal riverbed mining, a practice that has been costing the country up to US$1 billion annually,” Dr Wushe said.

He acknowledged that the country still faces a shortage of mining inspectors but said measures are being taken to strengthen inspection teams and improve oversight of mining activities nationwide.

Government is also collaborating with Fidelity Gold Refinery to expand gold-buying centres, making it easier for small-scale miners to sell their gold through formal channels. Policies allowing miners to retain 100 percent of their foreign currency earnings are also expected to boost the sector.

Dr Wushe said the ultimate goal is to create a safer, more productive and fully regulated artisanal and small-scale mining industry capable of making an even greater contribution to Zimbabwe’s economy.

“The ministry’s approach is a holistic one, seeking to bring a vital, but often dangerous sector into the formal economy by creating a supportive regulatory environment, providing the skills miners need and enforcing the law against those who operate outside it,” he said.