Full name(s) and surname: Francis Itiraishe Dzapasi
What contribution do you see yourself making to the Young Professionals Council and the SAIMM?:
Out of the realisation that mining is the backbone of the economy, I will represent young people from my country, in Southern African countries and in all countries around the world at large and encourage them to participate in the mining and metallurgical related industries. This will benefit the YPC in that more young professionals will become optimistic about becoming part and parcel of the mining and metallurgical fields. This means more members for the YPC which means growth of the Council. I will also help the YPC gain popularity in my country by involving young people in career guidance and mentorship programmes in schools and varsities. This will help fill the gap between youth, recent graduates and professionals in the mining industry in terms of the smooth flow of information and also two-way communication channels amongst them. I will motivate the youth to take part in various research and development projects aimed at improving the mining and processing of mineral resources that are vast within the Southern African region. Therefore new technologies, machines, safety standards and software will be promoted in this on going process.
My contribution to the SAIMM will be that there will be positive communication about the Institute from Zimbabwe as more and more people will become aware of what the SAIMM is about. This will result in improved communication to them as well as their attendance of various SAIMM activities including conferences. I will also assist the SAIMM to be recognised by various stakeholders from Zimbabwe like the government, media and business organisations who will in turn support the Institute and its intended interventions. I also see myself helping the SAIMM by encouraging membership from Zimbabwe and my former school ( Zimbabwe School of Mines) since I will have easy access to them as I will be speaking to them with a voice of the Institute.
Qualifications:
10 O'level passes including Mathematics, English and Physical Science (Silveira High School-2006)
12 points at A'level (Mathematics B, Physics B and Chemistry B)- Silveira High School 2008.
National Diploma in Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy - Zimbabwe School of Mines (2016) with best results of 10 Distinctions, 6 Credits and 1 Pass
Brief career history:
I am a young, energetic and vibrant man of substance aged 26 years. I have completed my National Diploma at the Zimbabwe School of Mines in 2016. I studied Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy and I came out with the best results, a record of 10 Distinctions, 6 Credits and 1 Pass.
I did my on the job training in 2015 at the then Rio Tinto's Murowa Diamonds Mine where I also received good recommendations, X-ray diamond sorting machine trouble shooting short course certificate and training of root-cause analysis by the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ). I am proficient with figures as my academic background is deep rooted in sciences. I have also been a member of SAIMM (The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy) since August 2016.
Date and place of birth:
27/10/90, Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe.
