Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa-Mashonaland West Bureau
ARTISANAL and small-scale miners have been called upon to reclaim and repurpose mined land as a way of adding value to the area they conduct their mining activities.
The call was made by a renowned small-scale miner in Mashonaland West, Mrs Blessing Hungwe-Nharara who has since turned part of her mined area in Banket into an avocado plantation.
The striving plantation with over 750 plants has been established on a one-hectare area that was degraded during gold exploration and mining by illegal miners who had invaded her mine claim.
Speaking to The Herald at the plantation recently, Mrs Nharara said it is imperative to remove the negative tag that is associated with artisanal and small-scale miners with unsustainable mining practices detrimental to the environment and community at large.
“We should change mining practices around artisanal and small-scale miners. Our practices should be more sustainable and speak to the way we look after the environment.
“Artisanal and small-scale miners are perceived as the ones damaging the environment and it is our practices that earn us a good name. After mining, we must reclaim, rehabilitate, and repurpose the land” she said.
“The reclaimed land can therefore be used for income generating projects including fruit tree plantations and horticulture that can sustain families.”
The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) former vice president and founder and leader of the Women in Mining Association under the wings of the Ministry of Women, Community, Small, and Medium Enterprises, Mrs Hungwe-Nharara believes the future generations must enjoy the benefits of the land.
“Our children and grandchildren must benefit from this infinite resource that we are benefiting from. We can’t just leave it like that after use.”
Recently, ZAWIMA national chairman Mrs Kundai Chikonzo shared the vision of the women miners in nation-building, sustainable mining and employment creation.
“As women miners, we are concerned about the social and economic well-being of our communities. Projects like avocado plantations will create employment while at the same time encouraging responsible mining activities and nation-building through NDS-1 and Vision 2030,” she said.
The Government has also commended the woman miner for leading the way in environmental stewardship through reclaiming of the land with Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland West Marian Chombo calling other miners to emulate the move.
Mrs Hungwe-Nharara targets to penetrate the Middle East avocado market currently being serviced by Kenya once her plantation comes on stream early this year starts.
daniel chigunwe
