MUTAPA Gold Resources (MGR) chief executive Patrick Maseva-Shayawabaya has called for the accelerated formalisation of artisanal and small-scale miners, saying the move is critical to unlocking the full value of Zimbabwe's gold sector and sustaining long-term industry growth.
Speaking at the Gold Symposium in Victoria Falls on Thursday, held alongside the Chamber of Mines Annual Mining Conference and Exhibition 2026, Maseva-Shayawabaya said stronger governance systems, increased mineral exploration and greater support for small-scale miners were essential for the future of the country's largest mineral export.
"The future we seek will not be secured by current production alone. It will depend on how we explore for minerals, establish supportive governance systems and integrate artisanal and small-scale miners into legitimate, safe and competitive gold-mining structures and the broader gold economy," he said.
Zimbabwe's gold sector has become the country's leading foreign currency earner, with artisanal and small-scale miners contributing a significant share of annual deliveries to Fidelity Gold Refinery.
Maseva-Shayawabaya said exploration remained the foundation of growth and urged Zimbabwe to strengthen cooperation between public geological institutions, private explorers, financiers and mining operators to attract long-term investment.
"The continued expansion of Zimbabwe's gold-mining sector depends largely on what we do today to discover new mineral resources," he said.
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He noted that countries that provide accessible geological information, regulatory certainty and clear rules governing exploration are better positioned to attract capital into the mining sector.
Maseva-Shayawabaya also underscored the importance of governance, describing it as the "operating system" of a successful gold industry.
According to him, effective governance systems build investor confidence, reassure communities, strengthen government oversight and improve access to responsible international markets.
He warned that weak oversight creates opportunities for illicit activities in the gold trade, making transparency, accountability and responsible sourcing critical to protecting value across the industry.
A major focus of his presentation was the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining, which he described as one of the most important development priorities for Zimbabwe's gold sector.
"The challenge is not whether this sector exists. The challenge is whether it can operate safely, legally and productively in a manner that strengthens accountability within the national gold industry," Maseva-Shayawabaya said.
He said successful formalisation programmes should simplify access to mining claims, provide technical training, improve health and safety standards, promote mercury-free processing technologies, expand access to finance and connect miners to formal markets.
Maseva-Shayawabaya cited the PlanetGOLD Zimbabwe initiative as an example of how formalisation can be combined with mercury reduction, improved market access, financial inclusion, gender inclusion and stronger collaboration among stakeholders.
"The goal should not be to criminalise miners but to progressively integrate them into a system where formal production is easier, safer and more profitable than informal production," he said.
MGR, he added, was committed to supporting artisanal miners through technical assistance and working capital facilities aimed at improving productivity and increasing output.
"Our objective is to support artisanal miners through technical assistance and working capital so that they can increase production and improve productivity. I must add that this is not charity. It is a business proposition for us.
"We benefit from their mining activities, and if they succeed, we succeed as well."
The Gold Symposium was sponsored by MGR.
The conference is running under the theme: “Unlock Value, Maximize Benefits, Sustain Growth.”