“This briefing discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by the
artisanal gold mining sector in Zimbabwe. It reflects on the measures needed to promote artisanal miners’ contribution to sustainable development, economic growth and poverty alleviation. Current policy approaches, including the criminalisation of artisanal gold mining by the Zimbabwean
authorities, have failed to address effectively persisting challenges such as
land rights conflict, violence, environmental degradation and smuggling.
If the costs of imperfect regulations are to be mitigated, new approaches are
required, including improved regulations and interventions to formalise the
sector. It is important that the conflict-ridden relationship between artisanal
and small-scale miners and large-scale commercial miners be transformed
into an inclusive stakeholder arrangement framed by mutual interests and
co-operation.”
