Anderson Tsikira, Chairperson of the Mberengwa Miners Association, voiced approval for the recently unveiled 2024 budget by the Minister of Finance, specifically lauding the government’s allocation of 2.7 billion towards the formalization and empowerment of small-scale miners.
In an exclusive interview with the Great Dyke News, Tsikira expressed satisfaction with the budget’s provisions for the mining sector. He highlighted the aspirations of small-scale miners for formalization, underscoring the significance of this process for their operations.
Tsikira emphasized the need to educate miners about the benefits of formal registration, mentioning ongoing collaborative efforts with the miners federation to advocate for formalization. However, financial constraints have posed challenges in advancing these initiatives.
While acknowledging the potential improvements formalization would bring to mining operations, Tsikira raised concerns about the adverse effects of power cuts on small-scale mining productivity. He stressed the critical importance of consistent electricity supply in mining areas and called for government intervention to address this issue.
Highlighting the sector’s potential contribution to national development, Tsikira underscored that an adequate and reliable power supply is fundamental for the mining industry to thrive and actively contribute to the country’s progress.
