Mapping artisanal mining sites in Runde district, Zimbabwe

In 2018, the Zimbabwean Lawyers Association ZELA started a pilot project of mapping artisanal mining sites in the Runde district (midlands province) of Zimbabwe. ZELA engaged IPIS to provide technical assistance on mobile data collection tools, questionnaire design and to create a printed map and an interactive webmap. 

A first training was conducted in Harare with the ZELA’s team in November 2018 to develop questionnaires and familiarise ZELA’s staff with the methodology. Five groups of enumerators from seven wards in Zvishavane visited 317 mining sites and completed questionnaires at each site.

IPIS developed an interactive map with information on the profile, nature, ownership, operations and impacts (including potential conflicts between farmers and miners) of artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the district. This information may inform the decision making of the government, the Runde Rural District Council (RRDC) and the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).