By Thomas Chidamba
Government has urged youths in Zimbabwe to take advantage of the evolving technology to venture and meaningfully contribute to the mining sector.
Speaking during the Young Professionals Forum at the Mine Entra held at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre, Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development Honourable Polite Kambamura urged youths to bring innovation and improvement to the mining sector.
The Young Professionals Forum ran under the theme: “Positioning young professionals in exploring and leveraging mining potential for the future.”
Deputy Minister Kambamura said that there is need to formulate products or technologies which will transform the mining industry.
“The mining value chain is the first point of call for any serious young professional who wants to be involved in the mining sector and herein kicks in the strategic positioning.
“The mining sector has a ripple effect not only in the mining value chain but also reaches out to ICT, transport and logistics, research and development.
“The mining sector, like any other industry is evolving technology wise, and there is need to be innovative in order to be well positioned in this sector.
“There is need to formulate products or technologies which will transform the mining industry. We look forward to innovative thinking and improvement on development of mining software, lynx geo systems, 3D geological modelling, mine design and production planning solutions.
“These mining softwares assist in mineral evaluation and guide daily mine operations, like drilling and blasting, production ore movement and processing,” he said.
Deputy Minister Kambamura said Government was committed to supporting youth initiatives.
“Government is committed to support the youth initiative, through education and empowerment programmes to ensure the youths contribute to economic development.
“Let me encourage the youths to exercise their entrepreneurial minds and actively grab the opportunities within the mining sector value chains,” he said.
Deputy Minister Kambamura said that the future of any country was in the youths and it is estimated that 89% of the global youth population lies in the less developed countries which are in Africa.
Speaking on the same occasion, Ministry of Mines and Mining Development Permanent Secretary, Mr Onesimo Moyo said the expertise of young professionals is needed to transform the mining industry to achieve the desired level of economic growth.
“Positive transformation of mining sector can be accelerated by inclusive involvement of young professionals.
“The expertise of young professionals is needed to transform the mining industry to achieve the desired level of economic growth.
“Young professionals have great hope in their power to shape the future. For Instance, young professionals have passion in pursuing latest technology which is required to increase productivity in the mining sector. Youths are expected to actively facilitate adoption of appropriate technology to turnaround the fortunes of the mining sector,” he said.
