State-owned Mutapa Gold Resources is moving to formalize artisanal gold mining on its Freda Rebecca mining lease by putting miners, shaft operators and other players across the production chain under contractual arrangements.

The company says it will allow existing artisanal operations to continue, but under a model that gives Mutapa greater oversight on production, safety, costs and the movement of gold while preserving its ownership of the mineral assets.

Tirivashe Vera,.