Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF), operating through its special purpose vehicle FS Mining, has entered into a partnership with Chinese miner Anhua Chenxi Mining to form RR Mining, bringing an end to five years of conflict and illegal activities at Ball Mine in Mutawatawa.
ZMF President Henrietta Rushwaya said the joint venture aims to bring formalisation and professionalism to the troubled mining area, where criminal elements had been operating with impunity. She said:
“What was important was to cease operations and create formalisation and professionalisation. We need to understand the needs of the miners and bring everyone under one roof, mining, processing, and selling.”
Under the arrangement, Anhua Chenxi Mining holds the tribute agreement on 430 hectares encompassing 11 mining blocks, while ZMF, through FS Mining, provides the formalisation framework and community engagement.
Registration of artisanal miners is now in full swing, with 400 miners already registered and a target of 1,000.
Traditional leaders under Chief Chipfungwe are custodians of the register, which is also shared with the Zimbabwe Republic Police for security purposes.
Miners have agreed to sell their ore exclusively to RR Mining, ensuring all gold is properly accounted for. Said Rushwaya:
“As ZMF, through FS Mining, we are delighted to embark on this. It is a case study we intend to carry out throughout the whole country.
“We need to put our miners under one roof, mining, processing, and selling, and that will bring the sanity we have been seeking.”
The first batch of equipment arrives on March 15, comprising 20 small sand crushers, 10 centrifuges, 2 generators, 15 air compressors and drilling rigs.
Trial operations are scheduled for March 20-26, with full-capacity operations expected by late June or early July when a second batch of 100 additional crushers and 2-4 round mills arrives from China.
The mine previously produced 3kg of gold daily (worth nearly US$500,000), but none reached the license holder due to criminal activity.
A Fidelity Gold Refinery office and police post will be established on-site to curb leakages. ZMF has already sunk a borehole at Mungari Primary School serving Chief Chitsungo’s community in Pfungwe.
Women will benefit through participation in food production and the mining of consumables supply.
The government is targeting over 50 tonnes of gold production this year, with artisanal miners already contributing over half of national deliveries.
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