The ‘nouveau riche’ and ‘makorokoza’: Artisanal and small-scale gold mining and unequal distribution of benefits in the Shurugwi District, Zimbabwe

Abstract

This paper focuses on social actors and interaction dynamics in the Shurugwi ASGM sector. We present evidence of unequal distribution of gold mining benefits between elite actors and artisanal miners, and reflect on its implications for the social conditions of artisanal miners. In Shurugwi, elite actors (claim and mill owners, and buyers) exercised power through their control of resources, while miners had limited resources and survived through rudimentary extraction either illegally or legally, as employees or subcontractors for claim owners. We argue that inequality and unequal benefits, have created perfect conditions for exploitation, dependence and political patronage, where access to gold benefits are mediated by relationships with elite actors. We conclude that if equal benefits are to accrue to all actors, reforms should be tailored towards enabling the legal participation of artisanal miners through removing barriers to registering mining claim, and building capacity of artisanal miners.