*ZAMA unveils artisanal miners’ formalisation program* ___________________________________ `June 12, 2025` https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDbHKp3GJOtlMM4PA39 https://wa.me/263718497005?text=advert THE Zimbabwe Artisanal Miners’ Association (ZAMA) has tabled a formalisation program targeting all the artisanal players as part of efforts to maximise profits while easing the burden of work-related injuries and fatalities. Artisanal mining in Zimbabwe is largely blamed for accelerated environmental degradation and violation of socio-cultural systems. A 2022 Centre for Natural Resource Governance report on illicit financial flows in the artisanal mining sector estimated that as much as $1.9 billion is lost annually due to leakages. On their part, artisanal miners have since cried foul over ill treatment, stigma and underpayments for the minerals by gold buyers in the shadowy economy. Speaking to NewZimbabwe.com on Wednesday, ZAMA national coordinator, Elias Masuku, said the formalisation program will solve all the problems around artisanal mining once and for all. “We are currently rolling out a formalisation exercise which is driven by the motive of regularising every mining workspace across Zimbabwe. We are also pushing for the availability of workspaces through negotiations with people who have idle claims for them to cede. Such initiatives will go a long way to create opportunities for those willing to venture into mining,” he said. Masuku said the association is offering legal services to support small-scale miners who often face the risk of harassment from the sector’s big players who enjoy a firmer financial muscle. This, he said, is over and above other benefits like housing schemes, which will soon be tabled. “We have since begun work in places like Mberengwa. We are going to have a project in Buluwewe and other places as we drive the agenda of formalising, capitalising and capacitating the artisanal miner. Formalisation will benefit the miners and all the stakeholders in the value chain and is now long overdue,” added Masuku. _*NewZimbabwe*_