The proposed project?s main agenda is to train members of Prospect Mining Syndicate and their supply chain on how they can reduce the use of mercury and develop effective alternatives to mercury. The project will also address issues of land degradation and social inclusion and deal with the negative effects of mercury amongst Artisanal and Small Scale Miners with regards to men and women. The project will help come up with safe methods of handling mercury and also other mercury free technologies that can help get the same gold as when miners use mercury.

The Project will take place in Mberengwa on Prospect mine approximately 6 kilometers east of Mberengwa business centre, under chief Maziofa and kraal head Zacha. Prospect mining syndicate comprising of Mpofu Phelandaba, I.D No. 03-067927C03, (Tribute argent), Samson Ncube, I.D No. 24-107706C03 and Alimon Hungwe, I.D No. 03-005115D03. The project is also going to make sure that there is inclusion of women, youth and the disabled for full participation of all social groups. Though the syndicate has 3 signatories to the tribute it has a total number of 12 members, including 4 women and 5 youths.

Table 1. Members of the project
SURNAME FIRST NAME ID. No.
Mpofu Phelandaba(M) 03-067927C03
Ncube Samson(M) 24-107706C03
Hungwe Alimon(M) 03-005115D03
Mulingwa Annatoria(F) 58-222392H23
Shoko Monica(F) 29-062559M03
Masina Rejoice(F) 03-167259X03
Mangwere Obert(M) 29-314117V83
Chiganda Lyrick(M) 03-143661X03
Maruweni Brighton(M) 03-177329S04
Mupfugami Darlington(M) 67-134004S67
Masamba Innocent(M) 75-105057F75
Chada Muchaneta(F) 03-139500Z03
Total members (12)


The project seeks to slowly and effectively reduce the massive use of mercury in artisanal mining. Zimbabwe is one of the countries that use mercury, it is in top ten in the world and most of the mercury is used in ASM sector. Mercury is a slow killer which affects the nervous system, reproductive system and other body organs. The project will empower the youth, women and people living with disabilities so that they can also benefit from the mining sector. The specific project objectives are to train miners on how they can mine, save the environment at the same time saving the lives of the communities they work in. The project will encourage miners to adopt environmentally friendly and sustainable mining and processing practices and to document good practice stories in artisanal and small scale mining. We intend to reduce the use of mercury, through cyanidation and leaching.

1.2 Organizational Background and Capacity to implement the project

Prospect Mining Syndicate was formed in 2015 after they got a tribute from Start Mining Company in Mberengwa. The project has been producing gold in the past 2 years but after going through different trainings on mining, mercury, safety & environment and mining Legislation, the project noted that there is need to find ways of processing gold, rehabilitation and protecting the environment. The training workshops were conducted were conducted by different Organizations that include ZELA, School of Mines, Murowa Diamond Mining Company, Dept of Safety and Health Department. The Syndicate is well known within Mberengwa area and has been a role model to a number of upcoming miners. The project is committed to deliver new mercury free technologies, safe handling of mercury methods and land rehabilitation after mining.

Members of the Tribute have more than 3 years experience working with artisanal miners and this would give the Syndicate an upper hand in implementing the project. Prospect Mining syndicate is a registered syndicate that has been working in the extractives industry for more than 3 years and our core business is gold mining but through attending government and Civil Society organized workshops we have come to learn more about the dangers of mercury and the need to educate Mberengwa community on safe handling of mercury and also trying other alternatives which we have found very useful and less harmful. We are affiliated with the Mberengwa Miners Association which is also affiliated with the artisanal and small scale miners umbrella body Zimbabwe Miners Federation. The syndicate has three registered claims in Mberengwa namely; Prospect registration number 13304, Prospect 19 registration number 133 and Prospect 20 registration number 13306. All are gold reef claims.
1.3 Project Objectives and Expected Results
Problem statement or challenge the project intends to address

Artisanal and Small Scale Miners use mercury in processing gold leading to a number of environmental and human related challenges that will be addressed through sustainable mercury free technologies. With the training that we have received through ZELA facilitated trainings and programs we have come to appreciate the health hazards of mercury, however there is no alternative option unless one resorts to cyanidation and leaching which absolutely eliminates the use of mercury. This is only possible if one is financially empowered as the above requires large capital injection, hence the reason for this application for funding.

Currently the mine is mainly focusing on shaft development and gold ore extraction. We have a changfa compressor, jackhammer, 2 swindlers, 10 shovels, 2 picks, 2 axes, 3 drilling bits, manpower is 36 people that comprise (6 groups with 6 people each), 3 developing shafts and 3 production shafts sitting on 3 blocks of 500 meters by 200 meters each. For processing the syndicate solely relies on a nearby milling company where we only access free gold which is only attainable through mercury use. Prospect mining syndicate would have loved to practice cyanidation and leaching as they are aware of the health as well as financial benefits of this process. With cyanidation and leaching use of mercury is totally averted and the recovery is 3 times more. To this end, this grant we are applying for will help us achieve this goal.

Overall project goal/primary objective

Against this background, the goal of Prospect Mining Syndicate is to improve knowledge on alternatives to mercury, safe handling of mercury and land rehabilitation after mining.

Specific objectives
1. To create awareness on the dangers of using mercury and the importance of mercury free techniques among small scale miners in Mberengwa.
2. To improve mining activities through upgrading the mining equipment
3. To reduce use of mercury through establishment of a cyanidation and leaching plant within 4 months.

? Rationale/justification of the project

Promoting mercury free technologies in ASGM is important in addressing the GEFSGP programme through its objective on the need to pilot and test good practices, technologies and alternative approaches to use of mercury in ASGM sector. There is need to come up with mercury free technologies such as the use of shaking tables, direct smelting and improved sluicing. The Minamata convention is calling for minimal use or doing away with mercury use hence the need to come up with other cleaner technologies that can be used to win gold without affecting human life and the environment.

Since 2000, Zimbabwe?s artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector has dramatically increased and became one of the most powerful foreign income earning sectors, and a crucial sector for Zimbabwe?s development. Informality however has seen an increase in illegal trading of gold on the black market and subsequent smuggling to neighboring countries and overseas. ASM in Zimbabwe is predominantly concentrated and includes the extraction of gold, chrome, tantalite, semi-precious stones and industrial minerals. Gold exploitation, however, dominates the sector, accounting having accounted for 90% of ASM activities in 2001 and 70% in 2013, according to the CEO of Zimbabwe Miners federation. Artisanal and small-scale gold mining is a livelihood source for approximately 7.1% of the Zimbabwean labor force. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) data has shown gold deliveries by ASMs trending upwards from 0.9 tonnes (2009) to 22 tonnes (2018). The ban of mercury will lead to a decrease in the gold deliveries and also unemployment as most ASM uses mercury hence the need to come up with other alternatives that will lead to more production of gold.


Table 1: Objectives, activities, outputs and outcomes
OBJECTIVE 1: To create awareness on the dangers of using mercury and the importance of mercury free techniques among small scale miners in Mberengwa.
Outputs Activities Outcome
Output 1:
An improved mercury free community with new alternatives to mercury.

Indicators for planned actions:
- Number of miners with improved knowledge on the dangers of mercury and alternatives to mercury
- Number of ASGM booklets produced

Baseline:
- Some training workshops were conducted on use of mercury by ZELA, School of Mines, Murowa Diamond Mining Company, Dept of Safety and Heath Department
- No mercury free technology being used at project site.
- No booklet developed on ASGM


Target:
- 50 miners to be trained
- 20% reduction on use of mercury from the baseline by the end 6 months.
- 1 booklet developed on ASGM
- Baseline survey and needs assessment report. 1. Conduct inception meeting
2. Carry out baseline survey and training needs assessment to establish areas that need training
3.Training on mercury free techniques for 50 miners.
4. Develop an ASGM booklet - Increased knowledge on new mercury free technologies.

- A healthier mining community that uses mercury free technologies.


OBJECTIVE 2: To improve mining activities through upgrading the mining equipment and rehabilitation of degraded land at the project site

Outputs Activities Outcome
Output 2: New equipment procured to boost production and degraded areas rehabilitated.

Indicators for planned actions
- Number and type of mining equipment procured.
- Percentage increase in gold output due to new equipment
- Number of miners trained on using new equipment.
- Number of hectares of degraded areas rehabilitated.

Baseline:
- No training workshops conducted on land rehabilitation.
- There is some equipment at project site that needs to be upgraded
- No area has been rehabilitated

Target:
- 2 workshops on raising awareness on mercury
- Need to buy 1 Atlas copco compressor XAS97, jaw crusher and 5tonne/hour Ball mill
- 1 hectare of land to be rehabilitated - Training on land rehabilitation
- Sourcing of 3 quotations for each equipment to be bought
- Actual rehabilitation of degraded areas through gulley filling and tree planting.
Improved gold production through upgrading of mining equipment and degraded areas rehabilitated.

OBJECTIVE 3: To reduce use of mercury through establishment of a cyanidation and leaching plant within 4 months.
Outputs Activities Outcome
Output 3:
- Mercury free plant established at project site.

Indicators for planned actions
- Number and type of mining equipment procured.
- - Number of miners trained on using new mercury equipment.
- tonnes of mercury avoided.

Baseline:
- No cyanidation and leaching plant at project site.
- No borehole and tank at project site.
- no researches conducted on amount of mercury being used.

Target:
- 1 mercury free gold processing plant established at mine site.
2. Procurement of a jaw crasher and ball mill.
3. Cyanidation tanks.
4. Borehole drilled and jojo tank established.
5. Backup generator procured.
1. Designing of a mercury free gold processing plant at mine site
2. Sourcing of quotations and procurement of a jaw crasher, ball mill, building of cyanidation tanks
3. Increasing access to water and storage through borehole drilling and establishing water reservoir (jojo tank) and water pump
4. Procure backup generator to facilitate the process of cyanidation and leaching A heathier and cleaner environment created through the reduction in use of mercury in mining.