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The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development this week began piloting a new Responsible Mining Audit (RMA) Framework at selected mining sites, marking the first field implementation of a revised system aimed at strengthening compliance in the sector, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Ryan Chigoche
The ongoing pilot sees Ministry inspectors leading a unified team of officials from several government MDAs, including the Environmental Management Agency, Immigration Department and National Social Security Authority.
The pilot comes at a time when the mining sector continues to face widespread non-compliance, particularly among small-scale operators. Reports from the first two audits indicate the presence of repeat offenders, suggesting that voluntary compliance alone has been insufficient. Authorities say this underscores the need for a more structured and coordinated approach that combines oversight with guidance, ensuring miners meet operational, environmental and legal standards.
The RMA concept was first introduced through audits conducted in 2023 and 2024 to strengthen compliance across Zimbabwe’s mining sector.
While those audits were considered progressive, a government-commissioned gap analysis led by ENM Advisory highlighted weaknesses such as fragmented inspections, uneven documentation checks and limited coordination among regulatory agencies.
The review also noted the absence of a clear roadmap linking audits to legislative mandates, strategic national goals and international ESG benchmarks, limiting their effectiveness as tools for measurable, sustainable transformation.
Insights from this analysis informed the design of the new, more robust RMA Framework, which is now being piloted with support from civil society organisations, including the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation (ZELO).
The current pilot tests a coordinated inspection system across multiple MDAs, aiming to improve transparency and provide practical guidance to miners, with the success of the pilot expected to inform future legislative reforms.
The nationwide framework will strengthen governance, environmental safeguards and worker protections throughout Zimbabwe’s mining sector.
Officials emphasised that the audit is educational, not punitive, particularly for small-scale miners. Many compliance gaps identified in previous audits were linked to limited awareness rather than deliberate violations, and the framework is designed to guide operators towards safe, environmentally responsible and legally compliant practices.
With the pilot now underway, the Ministry is testing a system that balances enforcement with education, signalling a more structured and responsible approach to mining oversight in the country.
