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Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to responsible and inclusive mining in Zimbabwe, announcing a US$1.5 million dividend payment from its subsidiary, Blanket Mine, to the Gwanda Community Share Ownership Trust (GCSOT), Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
This latest contribution brings the total cumulative payments from the Caledonia Group to the Trust to approximately US$14.6 million since its establishment in 2012.
The payment is a direct reflection of Blanket Mine’s sustained operational performance and the Group’s core policy of sharing economic value transparently with local stakeholders. It underscores a partnership model designed to ensure mining acts as a catalyst for long-term, community-led development in Matabeleland South Province.
“Our approach to ESG is practical and long-term,” said Elton Gwatidzo, General Manager of Blanket Mine. “These dividend payments ensure that the success of Blanket Mine is shared with host communities in a transparent, structured, and sustainable manner.”
The dividends are not discretionary gifts but are intrinsically linked to the mine’s financial performance, governed by a clear framework that ensures predictability and alignment with prudent financial management. This structure allows the Trust to plan and execute meaningful projects with reliable funding.
“Consistent dividend payments from Blanket Mine enable the Trust to plan and implement meaningful development projects that respond directly to community priorities,” said Coster Nkala, Chief Executive Officer of the Gwanda Community Share Ownership Trust. “This dividend comes at a perfect time, as the Trust has just developed its new five-year strategic plan, which contains a number of social and enterprise development projects that require capital.”
The total payment history to the GCSOT is a testament to Caledonia’s consistent commitment:
- A US$1.0 million establishment donation in 2012.
- US$4.0 million in advance dividends paid in 2012, fully cleared by 2021 to enable early community projects.
- US$0.48 million in pre-advance dividends paid between 2020 and 2021.
- US$3.50 million in post-advance normal dividends paid between 2021 and 2024.
Notably, US$5.65 million was paid in 2025 alone, highlighting Blanket Mine’s strong recent performance.
For Caledonia, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles are embedded at the core of its business strategy. The dividend payments directly support the Social and Governance pillars by enabling inclusive economic participation, funding development in education, health, water, and livelihoods, and demonstrating transparent, accountable value-sharing mechanisms.
“This contribution reflects the Caledonia Group’s belief that responsible mining must deliver sustained and measurable benefits to surrounding communities,” the company stated. The Group views ESG not as a compliance exercise but as fundamental to profitable and sustainable operations.
Governance is reinforced through public disclosure of payments and the Trust’s own structures for overseeing fund allocation to community-identified initiatives. Blanket Mine remains one of Zimbabwe’s leading examples of responsible gold mining, with a proven record of local employment, development partnerships, and now over US$14 million in direct community investment.
The Caledonia Group has reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing engagement, ensuring mining continues to drive inclusive and sustainable growth for Gwanda and beyond.
