The Zimbabwe Miners Federation ZMF in partnership with LIVETOUCH Investments is set to establish a $2 million gold service centre that will benefit small scale miners in Matobo District, Matabeleland South Province.
Speaking on the sidelines of Maphisa gold mine tour in Matobo District, ZMF President Henrietta Rushwaya said there is need to support small-scale miners who are the major contributors of gold deliveries to Fidelity Printers and Refiners.
“Matobo has one of the best gold deposits in the country but due to lack of equipment miners from this area are incapacitated, which is one of the reasons we have partnered with Livetouch to capacitate them with equipment worth US$2 million.
“Mining is an important aspect towards the revival of our country’s economy. Thus, for capacity levels to be scaled-up it is important to support small-scale miners who are the major contributors of gold deliveries to Fidelity Printers and Refiners. This class of miners produced 22 tonnes out of the 34 tonnes of gold produced by the country last year and that accounts for about 65 percent of the total gold output.
“Matobo has one of the best gold deposits in the country but due to lack of equipment miners from this area are incapacitated, which is one of the reasons we have partnered with Livetouch to capacitate them with equipment worth US$2 million,” said she said.
Livetouch general manager, Mr. Kyle Wang also said the move is meant to provide mining equipment to small scale miners at affordable prices to them.
“We are going to put up a milling centre as well as a service centre, which will be a storage facility for all types of back up spares for small-scale mining equipment here in Maphisa. We have realised that small-scale miners are paying unreasonable prices for equipment. So, we are planning to import and sell it to them at a reasonable price but the issue is still under discussions with the Government as well as ZMF,” said Mr. Kyle.
Livetouch Investments is a cement manufacturing company with their plant-based in Redcliff. Diamond cement is the brand they are currently manufacturing. It also has a chrome processing business along the Great Dyke.
