Led by Tanyaradzwa Makotore, a third-year, second semester (level 3:2) student studying Metallurgical Engineering, students from Midlands State University’s Faculty of Engineering and Geosciences in Zvishavane, recently launched a Mining Safety Campaign.
Running under the theme ‘Safety Begins with Education’, the campaign was born out of the realisation that there has been an unprecedented increase in the number of deaths and serious injuries in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector in recent times. These accidents have largely been as a result of unsafe mining practices coupled with poor adherence to health and safety standards.
Speaking, during the virtual launch of the safety campaign, Faculty of Engineering and Geosciences, Executive Dean, Dr A Mamuse commended campaign participants and partners that included students, the Young Miners Foundation, AMOSA safety academy, and the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development for collaborating on such a noble initiative to improve mining practices and reduce the number of work place related deaths and injuries among artisanal and small-scale mining.
In her presentation, Campaign Chairperson, Tanyaradzwa Makotore, outlined the campaign’s principal objective, to ensure that zero harm in the work place is a reality among artisanal and small-scale miners. To achieve this, the campaign will focus on mobilising stakeholders and resources; identifying and helping to address safety related challenges being faced in the sector; over and above, educating miners on appropriate safety measures for accident prevention.
Among those who participated in the virtual launch were Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Chief Engineer, Eng. M J Munodawafa, who delivered the keynote address on Government action and involvement in safety improvement within the mining sector. Other notable presentations were by AMOSA CEO, Mr Magawa, who spoke on safety within the sector, the Young Miners Foundation Chairperson, Mr Chitepo ,who also spoke on the challenges being faced by small-scale miners in the industry, while, Ms Machumi, an Assistant Lecturer from the Faculty of Engineering and Geosciences, in her presentation highlighted how institutions of higher learning can contribute to improving safety within the mining sector.
The Safety Campaign will not only help to improve safety among artisanal and small-scale miners, but is also an opportunity for students to put into practice what they are learning as part of a broader pragmatic approach to learning that the University has adopted in keeping with Education 5.0.
Special mention must go to the local student organising committee comprising Liberty Shoko (level 5:1 Mining Engineering), Rumbidzai Magwaza (level 3:1 Mining Engineering), Kudzalshe Magavani (level 3:2 Mining Engineering), Tafadzwanashe Jama (level 3:2 Metallurgical Engineering), Godsends Siwela (level 2:2 Metallurgical Engineering) and Munashe Muwirimi (Geography and Environmental Studies) for organising and hosting a highly successful launch.
Was this post helpful?
Let us know if you liked the post. That’s the only way we can improve.