Staff Reporter
The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) Chief Director Nathan Nkomo, has said there is a need for artisanal miners to acquire comprehensive knowledge on safe mining practices to avert possible disasters.
Nkomo in an interview on Friday said artisanal mining despite it being a source of livelihood, unregulated mining activities poses a lot of danger to surrounding communities.
“First and foremost artisanal mining is a new type of mining we are experiencing in this country. We can not wish that away as it is a source of livelihood. What we need to do is try and make it a point that it is done in the proper way using basic principles and practices in mining,” he said.
Nkomo urged learning institutions, particularly universities, to offer specialized courses to equip artisanal miners with the necessary skills.
We wish our universities could offer basic tailored courses. Some institutions like the University of Zimbabwe has come up with tailored courses they think will impart knowledge and skills of doing mining properly. I hope we will be able to convince the players in the sector to attend these courses,” he said.
The CPU director stressed the importance of responsible mining, stating that it should be synonymous with sustainable practices. He said by providing education and practical training, universities can play a significant role in empowering artisanal miners to operate in a manner that mitigates negative environmental impacts and reduces the potential for disasters.
According to Nkomo, it is imperative that artisanal mining transcends its current rudimentary methods to ensure the safety of both miners and surrounding communities. The extraction of precious minerals, such as gold, must be carried out with caution and a proper understanding of the potential risks involved.
“We need to put our heads together as a society to make sure that kind of mining goes beyond what it is now, a rudimentary type of mining to a mining that resembles what real mining should be,” he said.
Nkomo’s call for increased training comes in response to recent incidents where unskilled artisanal miners inadvertently caused harm to themselves and nearby communities during their extraction processes.
A classroom block at Globe and Phoenix recently caved into a tunnel underground injuring pupils in the process.
