By Michael Oduor
Taita Taveta University has plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with artisanal miners, a move that will offer training on modern mining procedures and other necessary skills vital in mineral extraction.
Taita-Taveta University specializes in offering mining courses to learners in the institution.
David Zowe, the chairperson for Taita-Taveta Artisanal Miners, said locals need to benefit from mining empowerment programmes.
‘The benefits of signing the MoU include training artisanal miners on skills of identifying the mineral area and the techniques in digging and extracting minerals,’ he said.
Other benefits include knowledge on safe use of equipment and dynamites to minimize accidents and injuries or even deaths.
Speaking to Education News via the phone, the chair noted that such programs should include means by which miners can get access to equipment and money to make their mining activities more efficient.
“Artisanal miners engage in labour-intensive activities while extracting the minerals in the ground. They play the core roles in mineral mining. If they are empowered, they can greatly contribute to the economy of the county,” he said.
Mining is among the key economic activities in Taita-Taveta county. It provides employment opportunities and generates income for the residents.
Zowe added that the major challenges facing artisanal miners are lack of modern mining skills and knowledge, lack of equipment, lack of safety gears and that at times, the miners employ manual operations which are tiresome and time consuming.
He revealed that at times, the miners run out of oxygen while inside tunnels.
Some of the innovative ways the artisanal miners are exploring to ease their work include using radios for communicating while inside the tunnels.
Zowe added that Voi Geology Centre would also come in handy in providing a market for their minerals.
