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Michael Magoronga Midlands Correspondent
Small Scale Miners’ have urged Government to expedite the implementation of the “use it or lose it” concept that was announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently during a youth indaba in the capital.

The miners commended President Mnangagwa for the policy, saying it was vital if the country was to achieve more from the mining sector.

President Mnangagwa told delegates to the inaugural youth indaba in Harare recently that mining companies holding onto claims should either use them or risk losing them to the State even if they were paying fees to keep the claims.

He said there were some big conglomerates that have been holding on to mining claims for more than 60 years, thereby denying new players an opportunity to venture into the mining sector.

This came as sweet music to the mining sector who hailed President Mnangagwa, saying it shows he cares about the sector and urged government to expedite the implementation process.

In an interview, Zimbabwe Miners Federation president Ms Henrietta Rushwaya said with such initiatives from President Mnangagwa, there was no stumbling block in meeting the 2019 production targets.

She said implementation should be done quickly, but effectively that it benefits the right people.

“Certainly, nothing can stop us from meeting our targets if we get enough Government support,” said Ms Rushwaya. “Its high time Government walks the talk by factoring in the issues of use or lose it policy. The President should be hailed for such a move, but the implementation process should also be favourable.

“We don’t want a situation where the concept will be abused for the benefit of a few.”

Ms Rushwaya said there were some big mining companies holding on to mining claims for many years for speculative purposes, but with no production going on.

“We have areas which have been held on for the past years for speculative purposes,” she said. “If a conglomerate has been holding on to mining claims since 1930 for speculative purposes, let them be given to small scale miners, to our youth artisanal miners who do not have where they are carrying out activities.

“That way we would have eradicated unemployment, we would have eradicated illegal mining activities as well as promote safe mining methods.”

Young Miners Federation Co-Founder and President, Mr Payne Kupfuwa said the move by President Mnangagwa should benefit youths in mining who have been neglected for long.

“Indeed, we are in total support of the move by the President,” he said. “But we are saying it is time youths in mining benefit from such a move. We have been neglected for a long time.

“As youths it’s high time we own our own claims and not work for our parents or wait to be employed. I think it was not by coincidence that President Mnangagwa announced this during a youth indaba, it should tell you that he cares about the youths and we are already to accept the challenge and deliver.”