Mines

Tengenenge owns the claims of 34 mines. Those mines include Springstone, Serpentine, Steatite and Opal. The monthly amount for the mining concession is paid by the management team with the money earned through the 35% commission taken at the sale of sculptures. In return, the artists receive the raw stone for free. Additionally, Tengenenge sells raw stone outside of the community.

At present, the stone is broken by a mining team of five men under the lead of Victor Chakwinga. The mining is exclusively done by man power – no dynamite or machines are used. The crew only works with pits, shovels, pinch bars, hammers and strings.