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The Government has formally banned foreign nationals from participating in Zimbabwe’s artisanal mining sector, reinforcing its policy that small-scale mineral exploitation remains the exclusive preserve of Zimbabwean citizens.
The ban is contained in Statutory Instrument 215 of 2025, published in the Government Gazette Extraordinary on 11 December 2025, which sets out regulations governing foreign participation in sectors reserved for locals.
Under the new regulations, artisanal mining is explicitly listed as a sector exclusively reserved for Zimbabweans, meaning foreign nationals are prohibited from owning, operating, financing, or exercising beneficial control over artisanal mining activities in the country.
Authorities have also tightened rules on beneficial ownership, empowering regulators to investigate and expose foreign nationals operating artisanal mining ventures through local proxies.
Any business or operation suspected of concealed foreign ownership may be required to submit sworn declarations disclosing the true beneficial owners. Failure to disclose, or providing false information, constitutes a criminal offence punishable by heavy fines or imprisonment of between three and five years.
While the regulations provide a regularisation framework for foreign businesses operating in certain reserved sectors, artisanal mining does not qualify for foreign participation under any threshold, effectively closing the door on exemptions or permits in the sector.
Any foreign national found operating, funding, or assisting artisanal mining activities will be deemed to be acting unlawfully and risk prosecution, suspension of licences, and prohibition from conducting business with Government entities for up to five years.
Government says the move is aimed at protecting local livelihoods, curbing illicit mineral flows, and strengthening community-based mining, which employs hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans across gold, chrome, and other mineral-rich areas.
The ban also aligns with broader efforts to formalise the artisanal mining sector and ensure that its economic benefits accrue directly to citizens rather than external actors operating outside regulatory oversight.
Strong Signal to the Market
The inclusion of artisanal mining among sectors fully reserved for locals sends a strong signal to investors that foreign capital must be channelled into large-scale, value-adding, and industrial mining ventures, rather than informal or small-scale operations.
Statutory Instrument 215 of 2025 takes immediate effect, and enforcement agencies have been empowered to act against any violations without further notice.
