Mixed fortunes for young Matobo gold miners

Innocent Mgutshini 

MATOBO – Endowed with huge deposits of gold ore, Matobo district is a hub of gold mining activities that have for long been providing employment to the  young people. However, it is not all roses for the miners who feel shortchanged by claimers, despite risking their lives in precarious mining activities.

Speaking to Community Podium, one of the youthful miners, Gabriel Moyo highlighted the challenges affecting young miners and explained the root cause of irresponsible behaviour of young miners.

“At times we feel robbed by the mine claimers as they usually appropriate  50% of the shares to themselves. Moreover, the sponsors get a certain substantive percentage that leaves us with almost nothing in the process. Our plea as young miners is for claim owners to consider reducing the percentages to around 10 to 15 %.

There are a lot of mining risks that  include death when we go underground. Mines are often home to many dangerous gases and explosives and due to the confined spaces, these gases and dust particles are not always able to escape and they build up within the mine. When combustion  occurs, the gases become a serious health threat to workers who often do not have protective clothing,” said Moyo.

While making the case for young people in Matobo to be capacitated in applying for mine claims, Moyo also highlighted the effects of the unfavourable working conditions on the psyche of a typical young miner, allegedly leading to suicidal thoughts and reckless behaviour. He called upon investors and companies to teach young people financial management skills in addition to bettering their working conditions. 

“The harsh conditions at the mines as well as the ever-lingering high risk of death are the root causes of irresponsible money spending by the majority of young miners. 

If the investors and companies teach the miners financial management, it might go a long way in making them better, responsible people in the future. Local young miners must be educated on how to apply for mining credentials as well,” Moyo added.

 Nonkululeko Mbano, a female young miner threw some light on the bittersweet experiences of young women in the mining sector. She alleged that the playing field tilts heavily against  women who are sidelined in favour of their male counterparts when opportunities arise.

“Mining has helped us a lot as young women. We are no longer dependants and can now look after our children and pay their school fees.

 However, there are a number of challenges that are unique to us as women miners. First of all, the volatile environment is not conducive for us as the threat of violence is so high in the mines. We also lack mentorship, guidance, workplace support and hygiene facilities are a far cry from the bare minimum. We also feel that some opportunities are unjustifiably given to men based on their gender,” said Mbano.

 Matobo Youth Development Initiative Director, Descent Dube said that the  mineral has created opportunities for young people in Matobo as they have gone into mining in their numbers. Dube was, however, quick to highlight the exploitation of young people and the dangers that lurk in the mine shafts.

“The current economic situation is compelling young people to join the mining bandwagon for survival. At the same time, it is putting them in danger because most of them are embarking on illegal mining and we have witnessed a lot of exploitation that is happening in mines. There is no protective clothing like helmets when they get into the shafts that are  70 to 100, so anything can happen in that shaft because there is no protective gear .They have no choice but to work under those conditions and this happens out of desperation,” said the firebrand Dube.

Furthermore, Dube said a wrong precedence has been set which therefore needs all hands on deck to deal with the problem. He implored the authorities and the owners of these mines to seriously uphold the sanctity of life. “There is need to balance profit and welfare of these young miners,” he said.

” The challenge affecting smale scale miners  or artisanal miners is the issue of percentages that they are forced to pay the owners of the mines or the sponsors. As MYDI, we did investigations and discovered that 50% of the produce goes to mine owners and the miners share the remaining balance which we feel  is a kind of exploitation. The miner can spend three months under the tunnel only to come out for peanuts and with that little they don’t even think of going back home. They feel frustrated and dissapointed, leading them to spend that money irresponsibly. There is need for career guidance and mentorship because a lot of money and opportunities are being lost due to lack of mentorship,” said Dube.

“As a youth organisation, we are trying to come up with an intervention strategy to ensure the involvement of young miners in the decision making process as well as the determination of their future.We will try to engage all stakeholders as well as the beneficiaries, who in this instance will be miners so as to ensure that they can get a platform where their voices can be heard. There should be equilibrium in the process of mining ,sharing and investment and we are hoping that other stakeholders who are interested in young miners can embrace this idea of mentoring and giving career guidance to the young miners so that they prioritise their welfare,” he said.

The relentless quest for the precious mineral has also resulted in massive land degradation, siltation of dams , water contamination  and violence.

 “I have noted with concern the  adverse effects of mining on the environment on wildlife and domestic animals, water contamination, sedimentation,  depletion of forests and the disruption of the ecology,” said Moyo.