By Amanda Mavhaza
A new lease of life has dawned on more than 3500 youths in Gadzema, Chegutu as they have started gold mining at formerly ZMDC owned New Found Out Claims after a successful transfer of blocks to their Zuvarabuda Empowerment Trust recently following the assistance of a local mining investor.
The Zuvarabuda Empowerment Trust (ZET), which employs more than 3500 youths is targeting to produce 20kgs of gold per month.
The trust had applied for a mining tribute or transfer of blocks from ZMDC (registration numbers 15113 and 14816) to their name.
From 2016, the trust had been logging their applications with both ZMDC and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development but with no fruitful results.
Then they sought for assistance from a local mining giants, TogaBless Mining Investments to mediate between them and ZMDC.
In a letter to TogaBless, a copy of it in possession of this reporter, the trust begged for the enterprising firm to help them regularize their mining operation at the mine.
“This Organisation is kindly asking if you could fruitfully assist and facilitate this long waiting opportunity so that we demonstrate our potential as indigenous people so that we get legality of the applied land or even gives the opportunity to run the whole mine.
“Our fear on the current operations is that victimization of our members by the authorities as we operate without full authority and having legal documents.
“we kindly write to your good office to positively assist and facilitate the finalization of these negotiations between ZET and ZMDC,” reads part of the letter signed by Nicks, The Trust’s Secretary General.
The Zuvarabuda Empowerment Trust promised that they will support government initiatives by channeling their gold to Fidelity Printers and Refiners only.
“In order to promote, support and implement government policies and programmes, the Organisation remitted and will remit all gold to Fidelity Printers and Refiners though done through a third [party.
“We are working with EMA and all other relevant stakeholders to guarantee proper mining operations.”
TogaBless managed to assist them and they have since regularized their operations.
Since their regularization, they said they have capacity to produce an average of 20kgs of gold per month.
