Government plans Jumbo gold processing centre to lure artisinal miners into regularisation

Zim Now Writer

Government, through the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development will commission a gold processing centre at Jumbo Mine in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central Province, as efforts to formalise artisanal mining continue.

The development will see regulation of artisanal mining activities and help plug international smuggling leakages that have cost the country millions of dollars in revenue.

This was disclosed by Mines Minister Winston Chitando at the weekend while speaking to artisanal miners under the Zimbabwe Miners Federation.

“We want artisanal miners to be organised and mine in an orderly manner. We don’t want to see holes everywhere. You will be working with big companies like Metallon Gold. We don’t want revenue leakages,” said Chitando.

Chitando said the commissioning of the gold processing centre in Mazowe, has been scheduled for December this year.

“This will enable the government to collect revenue through the central bank to enable development of the economy through mining activities,” Chitando added.