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Tinashe Makichi : Business Reporter

Gold production for 2016 is forecast at 24 tonnes buoyed mainly expected increase from small scale miners. Small scale miners last year produced seven tonnes while big players produced 14 tonnes. The expected increase in production for small scale miners will be driven by $5 million worth of mining equipment expected from China by the end of May this year.“Last year we went out on a mobilisation programme to small scale miners telling them of the benefits of selling their gold to Fidelity Printers and Refinery, that it is good for the country and good for the economy.

“At the end of 2015, we managed to mobilise 7 tonnes of gold as small scale gold producers and the big mines produced about 14 tonnes. This year Government gave us a target to produce 10 tonnes,” said Zimbabwe Artisanal and Small-scale Mining Council president Senior Assistant Commissioner Apolonia Muzerengwe this week.

She said small scale gold miners have capacity to meet the set target but lack of requisite equipment has been the biggest challenge.

“We have capacity to meet the target set for small scale miners by Government but what is lacking is mechanisation and we are happy that the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development initiated the $100 million facility.

“If things go according to the arrangement we are likely to receive equipment worth $5 million from China before the end of May 2016,” said Mrs Muzerengwe.

Close to half a million small-scale miners are set to benefit from the facility.

There are more than 600 000 small scale miners operating in Zimbabwe with combined figures of both registered and unregistered artisanal miners pegged at 700,000.

Gold is the largest mineral export earner after platinum in Zimbabwe and capacitation of small scale producers is going to play a crucial role in increasing national annual gold production.

Reports say that in 2014 the Zimbabwe Republic Police intercepted more than 20kgs of gold being smuggled out of the country while 180kgs was intercepted from illegal panning sites.