ZELA’s Opening Remarks during the Zimbabwe Miners Federation Conference (ZMF)

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Delivered by Tafara Chiremba

11 October, 2024

2024 Mine Entra, ZITF Grounds, Bulawayo

On behalf of the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA), I would like to express our gratitude to the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) for inviting us to participate in the 2024 Small – Medium Scale Mining Conference, held alongside the 2024 Mine Entra from October 9 to 11. ZELA is a public interest environmental law organization dedicated to promoting environmental justice and the sustainable, equitable use of natural resources. Our mission emphasizes extracting natural resources sustainably, ensuring environmental integrity, fostering community development, and supporting overall economic growth. Within the small-scale sector, we advocate for sustainability compliance from both social and environmental viewpoints.

Ladies and gentlemen, we acknowledge the crucial role the mining sector is anticipated to play in achieving Vision 2030. As ZELA, we have participated in several meetings over the past two days, including the unveiling of the State of the Mining Sector Report by the Chamber of Mines. During this launch, we were particularly excited by the updates shared by the Chamber of Mines, as well as Fidelity Printers and Gold Refiners regarding the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices and responsible sourcing initiatives being implemented to align with the Government’s Responsible Mining Initiative.

The Chamber of Mines disclosed that a significant number of its members have made notable progress in embracing ESG policies, with around 67% of them having adopted these guidelines, as highlighted in the state of the mining sector report. This is indeed commendable. Several members are actively pursuing projects aimed at mitigating the environmental and social risks linked to their mining operations. These initiatives include the adoption of clean technologies to lower carbon footprints, as well as the development of corporate social investments and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects within communities. Additionally, we learned that Fidelity Printers and Gold Refineries have enhanced their systems to promote responsible gold sourcing. This will significantly boost the value derived from gold sales and attract responsible investments into the gold sector.

This progress, ladies and gentlemen, strongly aligns with the 2023 National Budget’s focus on the necessity for the mining industry to adhere to ESG standards, enhancing its sustainability. We have observed that investors and our export markets are increasingly demanding ESG compliance from the mining sector. Issues surrounding ESG compliance are influencing the prices we receive for our minerals, and the ability to access financing opportunities to support the industry is also contingent on ESG adherence. To generate greater mineral revenue from the mining sector for development, the Government must tap into lucrative markets, which require ESG-compliant mining operations. We also acknowledge the national commitments to reduce carbon emissions, with mining being a key sector contributing significantly to the carbon footprint. Consequently, sustainability issues in the mining industry have become more crucial than ever.

As an organization, we are fully prepared to collaborate closely with small, medium, and large-scale miners, as well as the Government, to provide technical assistance in making ESG compliance a reality in the mining sector. We are committed to complementing both Government and private sector efforts to achieve national development objectives. Thus, our Strategy for the Small-Scale Mining Sector is clear, we are committed to collaborating with ZMF and the Zimbabwe School of Mines to enhance technical capacity in health and safety, provide mining equipment, and connect ASM miners with regional and international markets. We will also continue engaging in initiatives such as the Africa Maval and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to ensure that the necessary information and technical expertise for improving production and responsible sourcing initiatives is readily accessible. Furthermore, we propose the creation of a contextual responsible mining standards framework to help clean the ASM sector’s supply chain. Our organization is poised to support the development of this framework, enabling ASM to contribute effectively to responsible mining initiatives. Given that Fidelity printers already have a due diligence framework for sourcing gold from clients, including the ASM sector, there is a need to strengthen the capacity of artisanal and small-scale miners to meet responsible sourcing standards.

Ladies and gentlemen, we stand ready to offer technical support to large-scale mining companies as they navigate their ESG journeys and pursue sustainability goals. Our assistance extends beyond designing ESG policies; we also provide training, project design to meet ESG objectives, and support for ESG reporting.

ZELA applauds government’s initiative to implement the Responsible Mining Audit, which assesses compliance with legislation, tax obligations, labor standards, environmental criteria, and CSR commitments. From our recent discussions with parliament and other stakeholders, we have learned that the ASM sector requires greater support to adhere to laws, particularly environmental regulations. As an organization, we understand the significance of ensuring that the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining sector equally participates in environmental protection. Therefore, we recommend that the government consider allocating a portion of the royalties collected from the ASGM for environmental safeguarding.

We recognize that the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Sector is increasing production to significantly contribute to the annual gold delivery goal of 30 tonnes. This necessitates additional resources to bolster the government’s capacity to improve mineral resource governance, retain essential skills, monitor compliance, and enforce laws, including environmental regulations. Hence, we suggest that the upcoming National Budget allocate sufficient resources to enhance the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development’s capacity to assist the mining sector in adhering to the country’s laws, with more support directed towards the ASM sector.

The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association believes that the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining sector should play a role in community development and job creation. However, we acknowledge the need for resources, formalization, and capacity building to fully realize the ASM’s potential contributions to community development. We commend the government for initiating the processes to develop the ASM, Minerals Development, and Local Content policies which should be finalized with consideration for the priorities and needs of the ASM sector. Our organization is ready to assist in the completion of these policy documents, and we recommend that the government seek the technical support of the Inter-Governmental Forum on Metals, Mining, Minerals, and Sustainable Development (IGF) to develop these crucial policies.

Distinguished delegates, with these remarks, I thank you.