By Moses Charedzera
Minex, organisers of countrywide exhibitions for small scale miners have reintroduced Minex in Mashonaland Central. The Minex expo is slated for the 26th of March this year in Shamva.
Minex was last held in Mashonaland Central in Bindura in 2017and there has been growing calls by miners in the province for another exhibition.
The reintroduction was also prompted by the need to give the increasing number of Minex stakeholders and small scale miners in the province a chance to network and strengthen linkages for maximising output.
Shamva was chosen this time due to the high concentration of miners and its proximity to gold ore rich areas such as Mazowe and Bindura.
Mashonaland Central is endowed with rich gold deposits in Mazowe, Bindura, Guruve, and Shamva among other districts. The Great Dyke, a geological feature-rich in several minerals including chrome, also runs through the province.
Many small scale miners are exploiting the rich chrome deposits while thousands of artisanal miners eke out a living digging and panning for gold.
Minex Head of Marketing Rudo Chibondo encouraged all small scale miners, suppliers, regulatory authorities and other stakeholders to participate at the event, crucial for creating enduring partnerships, selling mining equipment and services as well as disseminating vital information to miners.
“ It’s a great opportunity for mining value chain players and stakeholders to meet. As usual Minex will invite financiers, buyers, regulatory authorities and small scale miners together, creating dialoguing and sales opportunities. With challenges created by climate change in agriculture mining presents a solid source of income hence it is the anchor of government’s vision 2030.
“A special feature of the Shamva Minex will be the introduction of Production Awards that will see small scale miners who have excelled walking away with trophies and certificates,” she said.
Minex is renowned for its discussion sessions and dialogue which provides answers and the missing link for small scale miners seeking a foothold in the extractive sector.
Last year Minex held similar expos in Gwanda and Mberengwa with plans this year to include other traditional venues such as Zvishavane and Kadoma.
