GOVERNMENT is accelerating efforts to unlock value from Zimbabwe’s gold sector through an ambitious drive to formalise artisanal and small-scale miners, signalling a more structured and inclusive approach to one of the country’s most critical industries.
Speaking at the graduation of 300 miners, Mines and Mining Development minister Polite Kambamura outlined a shift towards strengthening oversight while positioning small-scale producers as central to national growth.
The subsector accounts for more than 60% of gold deliveries to Fidelity Gold Refinery.
“This sector is no longer peripheral,” Kambamura said. “It sustains livelihoods, drives rural economies and underpins our national development ambitions, but it must now operate within a framework of accountability.”
The move comes as policymakers intensify efforts to curb leakages of gold into informal and cross-border markets, a long-standing challenge that has limited the country’s ability to fully benefit from its top export.
Since gold is a key source of foreign currency, authorities are seeking to strengthen official inflows while maintaining robust production levels.
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Analysts say a significant share of output bypasses formal channels, underscoring the importance of reforms aimed at improving traceability and market participation.
Under the new approach, formalisation is being positioned as both an economic and developmental tool — designed to integrate miners into regulated systems while enhancing productivity and compliance.
The government’s strategy centres on training, certification and decentralised oversight.
The programme, developed in partnership with the Zimbabwe School of Mines and sponsored by Mutapa Gold Resources and its partners, equips miners with technical skills while linking them to compliance standards and formal markets.
Each certificate issued to the 300 graduates is expected to serve as an entry point to the formal economy, enabling participation in regulated trading systems and improving the tracking of gold flows.
Authorities are preparing to deploy mining development officers across districts, extending regulatory presence directly into mining communities.
The model, similar to agricultural extension services, aims to embed support and oversight at the production level.
“We are building a structure that ensures accountability at the grassroots level,” Kambamura said. “Responsible mining is now a binding obligation.”
The initiative forms part of the broader recalibration of Zimbabwe’s mining policy, aligned with the government’s ambition to build a US$12 billion mining economy.
Small-scale miners — once considered marginal — are now recognised as a key pillar of that vision.
Their growing dominance in gold production has elevated them to a major economic force, although challenges remain around access to finance, compliance and exposure to informal trading networks.
Formalisation is expected to deliver wider benefits, including improved environmental management, enhanced safety standards and increased productivity.
Plans are underway to expand outreach through mobile mining schools, bringing technical training closer to mining communities.
Private sector partnerships are also being mobilised, with mining companies contributing funding and expertise under corporate social investment programmes.
However, the transition presents practical challenges. Compliance costs — including licensing and regulatory requirements — may be difficult for some miners to meet, particularly without access to affordable finance.
Gold remains Zimbabwe’s largest source of export earnings, and improved formalisation can significantly enhance revenue generation and foreign currency inflows.
Kambamura described the initiative as a pivotal step forward.
“When these miners are empowered, we are empowering the nation,” he said. “But empowerment must come with responsibility.”