Points to ponder abut mineral beneficiation in Zimbabwe

Below are some of the interesting discussion points and recommendations that were made during the panel discussion:

• Zimbabwe has no beneficiation strategy despite hinging its socio-economic development prospects on mining, particularly value addition and beneficiation. A beneficiation strategy must be formulated urgently. Mineral beneficiation and value chains strategy must be part of the broader manufacturing and industrialisation framework. Countries like South Africa have beneficiation strategies. Such a strategy can help transform the comparative advantage inform of our mineral wealth endowment into a competitive advantage. Issues such as cost competitive production, appropriate technologies, skills and craftsmanship are some of the factors that foster competitive advantages. The issue of comparative advantage versus competitive advantage account for the reason why most countries undertaking mineral beneficiation are not mineral producing countries. A strong and vibrant domestic market is also a critical enabler to value addition and beneficiation.
• There is need to address infrastructure gaps and high costs of utilities like power to enable value addition and beneficiation. Much needed power for beneficiation is in short supply, unreliable and quite expensive.
• Systematic quantification of the mineral resource base must be carried out. The last systematic of mineral was carried out in 1981.
• There is need to establish a multi-stakeholder technical working group to diagnose the reasons behind the shutting down of various beneficiation plants in the country. Some of the closed beneficiation plants include Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (Ziscosteel), ZimAlloys (chrome), Kamativi (tin) and Alaska copper refineries among others.
• Easy of doing business reforms must be carried out urgently to promote formalization of the artisanal mining sector. Compliance requirements are too complex and it is costly to comply. This accounts for why many artisanal miners prefer to work illegally and informally.
• Legislative and institutional reforms are need to curb the rampant smuggling of gold.
• Good environmental management practices must not be sacrificed to promote the growth of artisanal mining. Environmental costs, if not managed well, will hurt future generations.

By Mukasiri Sibanda for The Source

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