DALNY Mine, a subsidiary of Pelertia Gold Mine under RioZim shareholders, is helping improve livelihoods in the local Chakari community through a tribute mining scheme introduced two years ago.
The company launched the initiative in 2024 as part of efforts to support the community while formalising small-scale mining activities.
Under the arrangement, artisanal miners are allowed to operate on the company’s claims, while Dalny provides transport for the ore and milling services and after processing, the company buys the gold produced by the miners.
According to Fidelity Gold Refinery, gold deliveries reached a record 46,7 tonnes in 2025, representing a 28% increase from the previous year as prices rose above US$3 500 per ounce, boosting production.
Artisanal and small-scale miners accounted for more than 70% of the total deliveries.
The community in Chakari, where Dalny is based, is largely dependent on mining, and the tribute scheme has become an important source of employment for many residents.
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Increased income flowing into the area has also created opportunities for local businesses.
Before the introduction of the programme, illegal mining was rampant in the community, exposing miners to dangerous conditions in unsafe pits.
Mine management says the tribute scheme has helped formalise mining activities in the area while improving safety and economic opportunities.
Dalny Mine is currently operating at a relatively small scale, largely through the tribute system.
About 120 tributors deliver ore to the company’s mill free of charge and are paid according to the gold recovered from their ore.
Speaking during a recent media tour, Dalny Mine head of operations Nirav Kumbhar said the initiative was designed to benefit both the community and the company.
“We introduced the tribute scheme to benefit the community while also supporting the operations of the mine.
“When the mine was previously under care and maintenance, economic activity in Chakari declined significantly,” Kumbhar said.
“There were limited livelihood opportunities and businesses were struggling because there was no steady income circulating in the community.
“When the tribute scheme was introduced, people started earning a living again by bringing their ore for processing.”
He said the company provides milling facilities at no cost to the miners and also transports the ore from the tribute sites to the processing plant.
He added that part of the revenue generated is reinvested into community development projects.
“Some of the resources generated from the processing activities are channelled back into the community.
“We have supported projects such as the construction of the clinic, the maternity block and water distribution systems that supply clean drinking water to residents.”
The company is currently working with about 125 small-scale tributors and between 10 and 20 larger-scale operators.
Tribute director Martin Dube said the programme had helped create employment and offered young people an alternative to drug and substance abuse.
“We have contracted about 120 small-scale miners under the tribute system. Through this work they are improving their livelihoods while also contributing to the broader economy,” Dube said.
“We are also prioritising the employment of young people from the community so that they have opportunities to work instead of being exposed to drug and substance abuse.”
As part of its community support initiatives, Dalny Mine is also funding the construction of a clinic that serves more than 26 000 people in Chakari and operates round the clock with healthcare workers working in shifts.
In addition, the company has constructed a maternity block which is expected to open soon, a development that is set to ease challenges faced by pregnant women who previously had to travel long distances to access maternity services.