- Artisanal miners in Chegutu pledged to abandon mercury use in gold production.
- PlanetGOLD Zimbabwe targets a 4.8‑tonne mercury reduction over five years.
- Rollout planned in 11 districts with training, equipment access, and formalisation support.
CHEGUTU, Zimbabwe, June 4 (ZiMining) – ARTISANAL and small‑scale miners in Chegutu say they are ready to stop using mercury in gold production and adopt cleaner technology, a shift revealed during a media tour of G‑Zone Mining and Milling Company this week.
Production Manager Lovemore Matsena said the company is prepared to embrace mercury‑free methods. “We are ready for the technology,” he told journalists. “Miners need education on the benefits to them, government and the environment.”
PlanetGOLD Zimbabwe, which leads the transition, aims to cut mercury use by 4.8 tonnes over five years. Project Director Nyaradzo Mutonhori said the rollout will reach 11 mining districts nationwide, focusing on training, access to equipment and formalising operations.
A Ministry of Mines official, Reginald Chidawanyika, said a baseline survey is underway to map current mercury use and identify alternative technologies that will not disrupt production.
Zimbabwe is a signatory to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which requires countries to phase out mercury use in small‑scale gold mining.
Miners at G‑Zone said cost and technical support remain major concerns. Project partners plan pilot demonstrations to address these challenges.
