The government must promulgate an enabling legislative and regulatory framework that decriminalises the Artisanal and Small Scale Mining (ASM) sector, an economic justice group says.
Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) says the enabling legislative and regulatory framework should be supported by objective, consistent, transparent and non-discriminatory regulatory mechanisms which offer easy access to mining titles and legal production channels.
“The expeditious enactment of the long awaited Mines and Minerals bill which captured the decriminalization of the sector remains a priority in mines and mining development,” ZIMCODD says.
“The government should use statistics highlighted in the monetary policy as a basis for incorporating ASM as a strategic component for rural development which needs both technical and financial support.”
The social justice group also says contribution made by the ASMs under the unfavourable conditions characterized by “hide and seek” operations is a clear testimony that once decriminalized and supported, it can turn around the economy.
“This should be a quick win for the government in terms of boosting foreign currency and export performance,” ZIMCODD says.
“The informality of ASM does not only sabotage the potential for turning around the economy but also have negative effects on the country’ s social, environmental and fiscal well-being.”
Small scale miners produced 21. 7 tonnes in 2018, a 64.5% increase from 13.2 tonnes in 2017 according to the 2019 Monetary Policy Statement.
ZIMCODD blames lack of political will as the challenge of establishing a comprehensive framework.
“This (lack of political will) could be due to responsible policymakers’ personal interests, corruption and money laundering enabled by the informal status of the ASM sub-sector,” ZIMCODD says.
Artisinal and Small Scale miners are approximated to be 500 000 in Zimbabwe with 1 million people being dependent on the subsector.