Points to ponder abut mineral beneficiation in Zimbabwe

Mining, essentially value addition and beneficiation, is one of the growth engines for the country’s development plans under the Zimbabwe Agenda and for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZimAsset) and the Ten Point Plan.

This objective is inspired by the fact that the country’s export earnings are predominantly anchored on raw mineral sales. Exporting raw materials translates to exporting wealth in the form of jobs, foreign exchange, industries and tax revenue.

The African Union’s Mining Vision — published in 2009, envisages a mining sector that is a key component of a diversified, vibrant and globally competitive industrialized African economy.

Befittingly, the National Economic Consultative Economic Forum held a breakaway session on mining at the Harare International Conference Center (HICC) on 12 October 2016 during the inaugural National Economic Symposium under the theme “Enhancing National Competitiveness and Economic Prosperity through Dialoguing”.

Topical issues discussed were on national prosperity through value addition and beneficiation and artisanal mining, economic contribution, challenges and solutions.

Moderated by a Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) official, the panel comprised of the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe (CoMZ) chief executive officer, Isaac Kwesu; Fredrick Kunaka, the general manager for Fidelity Printers and Refineries (FPR) and Professor Francis Gudyanga, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development (MMMD).

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