Zimbabwe Mining Deaths WEB
Metadata
- Zimbabwe Mining Deaths WEB
- October 25, 2022
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: ZIMBABWE MINING DEATHS (TV) HEADLINE: Zimbabwe Authorities Worried by Illegal Miners’ Deaths TEASER: Illegal miners say they will continue taking the risk as they have no other source of income PUBLISHED AT: 10/25/2022, 1:07p BYLINE: Columbus Mavhunga CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Bubi, Zimbabwe VIDEOGRAPHER: Blessing Chigwenhembe VIDEO EDITOR: PRODUCER: SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, MAS VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_ TRT: 2:14 VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES:)) ((INTRO)) [[Authorities in Zimbabwe say the death toll from illegal mining is rising, with more than 100 killed so far this year — more than double the casualties in 2020. The government has launched a safety campaign aimed at illegal miners, but the struggling economy pushes many people to keep risking their lives underground. Columbus Mavhunga reports from Bubi, Zimbabwe.]] ((NARRATOR)) Mngcini Ncube is one of many people involved in illegal gold mining in Bubi district just outside Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-biggest city. Now 22, he says he started mining at 11 years old, when he dropped out of school. He has no plans to stop illegal mining, despite the dangers. ((Mngcini Ncube, Illegal Miner)) ((Ndebele. 16 secs)) ((not in English)) “It’s the rainy season. We have to think about going back home. The shafts are not strong. Some are collapsing. If only we had something that could sustain us, we could stop mining here because it is not safe, but this is what's there.” ((NARRATOR)) The ministries of mines and of environment say they are working to improve conditions for the miners. They say it is not just the deaths that concern them, but also the fact that miners earn so little for their dangerous work. ((Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu, Zimbabwe Environment Minister)) (Eng. 19 secs)) “We try and engage [the] illegal miners also because it’s never safe to do your things illegally. First it is against the law, secondly, we believe that they get short changed, they are unable to access financing when they are doing mining illegally.” ((NARRATOR)) Benjamin Ndlovu, no relation to the environment minister, is with the Zimbabwe Small Scale Miners Association. He says his group wants funding so miners can get better equipment. The government, he notes, already helps small-scale farmers. ((Benjamin Ndlovu, Zimbabwe Small Scale Miners Association)) ((Eng. 18 secs)) “The small miners in Zimbabwe have a bright future, especially if the government can come in and try to help the miners financially, even the banks if they can help the miners financially. For example, like in agriculture, where the government chips in with some seeds and some fertilizers and so many other things.” ((NARRATOR)) Meanwhile, illegal miners in Zimbabwe continue their dangerous work and live in fear of being arrested. They can go days without finding minerals, but when they do, they can earn as much as $50 per day. ((Columbus Mavhunga, for VOA News, Bubi, Zimbabwe))
- Transcript/Script USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: ZIMBABWE MINING DEATHS (TV) HEADLINE: Zimbabwe Authorities Worried by Illegal Miners’ Deaths TEASER: Illegal miners say they will continue taking the risk as they have no other source of income PUBLISHED AT: 10/25/2022, 1:07p BYLINE: Columbus Mavhunga CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Bubi, Zimbabwe VIDEOGRAPHER: Blessing Chigwenhembe VIDEO EDITOR: PRODUCER: SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, MAS VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_ TRT: 2:14 VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath TYPE: TVPKG EDITOR NOTES:)) ((INTRO)) [[Authorities in Zimbabwe say the death toll from illegal mining is rising, with more than 100 killed so far this year — more than double the casualties in 2020. The government has launched a safety campaign aimed at illegal miners, but the struggling economy pushes many people to keep risking their lives underground. Columbus Mavhunga reports from Bubi, Zimbabwe.]] ((NARRATOR)) Mngcini Ncube is one of many people involved in illegal gold mining in Bubi district just outside Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-biggest city. Now 22, he says he started mining at 11 years old, when he dropped out of school. He has no plans to stop illegal mining, despite the dangers. ((Mngcini Ncube, Illegal Miner)) ((Ndebele. 16 secs)) ((not in English)) “It’s the rainy season. We have to think about going back home. The shafts are not strong. Some are collapsing. If only we had something that could sustain us, we could stop mining here because it is not safe, but this is what's there.” ((NARRATOR)) The ministries of mines and of environment say they are working to improve conditions for the miners. They say it is not just the deaths that concern them, but also the fact that miners earn so little for their dangerous work. ((Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu, Zimbabwe Environment Minister)) (Eng. 19 secs)) “We try and engage [the] illegal miners also because it’s never safe to do your things illegally. First it is against the law, secondly, we believe that they get short changed, they are unable to access financing when they are doing mining illegally.” ((NARRATOR)) Benjamin Ndlovu, no relation to the environment minister, is with the Zimbabwe Small Scale Miners Association. He says his group wants funding so miners can get better equipment. The government, he notes, already helps small-scale farmers. ((Benjamin Ndlovu, Zimbabwe Small Scale Miners Association)) ((Eng. 18 secs)) “The small miners in Zimbabwe have a bright future, especially if the government can come in and try to help the miners financially, even the banks if they can help the miners financially. For example, like in agriculture, where the government chips in with some seeds and some fertilizers and so many other things.” ((NARRATOR)) Meanwhile, illegal miners in Zimbabwe continue their dangerous work and live in fear of being arrested. They can go days without finding minerals, but when they do, they can earn as much as $50 per day. ((Columbus Mavhunga, for VOA News, Bubi, Zimbabwe))
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date October 25, 2022 13:30 EDT
- Byline Columbus Mavhunga
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America