SMALL-SCALE GOLD MINING AND RURAL LIVELIHOODS: CASE OF WOZOLI SILOBELA WARD 22, KWEKWE DISTRICT (ZIMBABWE)

Abstract

This paper explores the socio-economic impact of small-scale gold mining on deprived local communities in theWozoli community.Causal and push factors such as drought and lack of formal employment have been identified as the most determining factors that drive communities to informal small scale gold mining. Cluster sampling of 5mines and the attendant working groups/syndicates were employed provide feasibility and practicality to the data collection process. While snowball sampling was used to identify mining sites.Data were collected through questionnaires to miners in 5 selected mines, field observation and interviews were held with stakeholders and community leadership. The results of the study revealed that small-scale gold mining has transformed the socio-economic situation of Wozoli community in Silobela (Kwekwe). The sector has promoted direct and indirect employment, agglomeration of economic activities in the community and its finances diversified livelihoods. However, the study also noted that miners do not sell all the gold through official designated channels but tended to favour black market which offers relatively high prices. Consequently, it became evident that the informal mining sector has an insignificant contribution to local and national treasury because it is prone to corruption, illicit flows and smuggling of gold at the expense of the national economy. Additionally, informal mining has had a devastating impact on the local environment which has been attributable to the use of rudimentary mining techniques and failure to implement EIA provisions.  The authors recommend the need for enabling policy framework, formalisation of mining groups in local communities as well as competitive prices to small scale gold miners so as to curb smuggling and black market.