Gold Card initiative, low-cost funding, and mining shaft access to transform the ASM sector
GWERU – Mutapa Investment Fund-owned gold buyer and exporter, Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR), is rolling out a multi-pronged strategy to support artisanal and small-scale miners, including low-cost funding, a transformative Gold Card identification system, access to mining shafts, and targeted training programmes, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Presenting at the Miners for Economic Development high-level strategic planning workshop in Gweru on Thursday, FGR’s Francis Maidza outlined the breadth of initiatives the gold buying and refining giant has deployed to capacitate the ASM sector, which now supplies over 60 per cent of Zimbabwe’s gold output.
Maidza highlighted the impact of Fidelity’s gold development initiatives, revealing that the fund has reached thousands of miners across the country.
“Access to low-cost funding. Fidelity has the gold initiative funds. This fund is used to fund miners. Up to the end of 2025, we have funded almost 3,300 miners to capacitate their operations,” Maidza said.
This substantial investment has enabled small-scale miners to acquire equipment, improve safety standards, and increase production efficiency.
Maidza introduced a transformative initiative that promises to reshape how small-scale miners interact with the formal system: the ASM Gold Card.
“We will introduce a gold card as a transformative move towards the formalisation of ASM and the enhancement of gold trade activity. It is a strategic initiative to capture economic funds and safeguard communities along our gold supply chain in line with global responsible sourcing standards.”
The card will embed miners into traceability systems that meet international standards, unlocking tangible benefits.
“The introduction of the card will assist in formalising miners and embedding them into responsible sourcing and traceability systems. This will unlock tangible funding benefits for the miners accredited under Fidelity Gold. I think very soon you will know more about this gold card because each and every miner will get this card,” Maidza explained.
Fidelity’s commitment extends beyond funding to direct community participation. Maidza outlined how the refinery prioritises local hiring whenever it establishes new buying centres.
“Through our operations in communities, we prioritise hiring local community members whenever we establish a new gold buying centre or a gold sales centre.”
This approach ensures that the benefits of gold trade flow directly to the communities where mining occurs.
In a significant development, Maidza revealed that Fidelity, in partnership with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, has been allocated claims that will be opened for community members to work.
“We provide access to mining shafts to community members in areas where we open gold sales centres. This enables direct community participation in productive mining activities.”
He added: “Fidelity will provide mining shafts in our claims because we are partnering with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, and they have also given us claims to work on. So we need people to work those claims. That would be a chance for you guys.”
This initiative creates direct economic opportunities for community members who might otherwise struggle to access viable mining ground.
Maidza emphasised that Fidelity is not just providing funding but also building the capacity of miners to run sustainable businesses.
“Through our community engagement programmes, we provide miners with training in capacity building, for example gold buying as a business. Has anyone attended one of our trainings?”
He acknowledged that awareness of these programmes needs to improve.
“I think it’s because we don’t know how people will come to GDIF. We just invite people through our gold buying centres. All stakeholders must be involved in this training. We want you to treat your mining as a business; not each person is the head of the party.”
The training programmes are designed to professionalise the sector, encouraging miners to adopt business practices that improve profitability and sustainability.
Maidza highlighted Fidelity’s commitment to environmental safety, demonstrated through partnerships with the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).
“We have a commitment to environmental safety demonstrated by our partnership with EMA. We are starting to go out and deliver where we are going to the shafts that have been closed so that the community will not have any problems.”
This rehabilitation work ensures that mining activity does not leave lasting environmental damage for communities to contend with.
Beyond direct mining support, Maidza encouraged miners to explore supply chain opportunities.
“Let’s discuss those who live in mining areas where there are a lot of gold sales centres. They can supply some materials or utilise us as a chemical supplier. Like I said, we are also looking for services that you can access.”
This opens avenues for local entrepreneurs to participate in the gold value chain without necessarily mining themselves.
