The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has emphasised that collaboration among all stakeholders is essential to addressing the persistent issue of gold smuggling and mineral leakages in Zimbabwe’s mining sector.
By Ryan Chigoche
These illegal activities continue to drain national resources and undermine efforts to capitalise on the country’s mineral wealth fully.
As Zimbabwe aims for a target of 40 tonnes of gold production in 2025, the sector has already shown encouraging performance in the year’s first quarter.
This early progress fuels optimism for meeting the goal, but the path forward hinges on reducing illicit gold trade and ensuring all gold is routed through official channels.
Without curbing smuggling, reaching this target will remain a difficult challenge.
According to reliable reports, gold smuggling costs Zimbabwe over $1.5 billion annually—a staggering loss that impacts the national economy, especially since mining is one of the country’s largest foreign currency earners.
Against this background, Minister of Mines Winston Chitando, speaking at the Gold Mobilisation Send-Off Workshop in Harare, addressed the urgency of collaboration among all stakeholders to combat these issues.
“It is important to acknowledge, however, the significant challenges that continue to face our gold mining sector. Foremost among these are illicit activities and the ongoing issue of gold smuggling. Due to its inherent nature as a high-value and low-volume commodity, gold is particularly susceptible to leakages to various international markets. To effectively curb these detrimental activities, strong collaboration and shared responsibility amongst all stakeholders is paramount,” he said.
A key element of the government’s strategy to address gold smuggling and mineral leakages is the Gold Mobilisation Program. The focus of the 2025 First Quarter Gold Mobilisation Exercise will be the eight mining provinces.
These exercises are integral to the broader effort to formalise gold trading in Zimbabwe.
By offering favourable terms and ensuring timely payments, the government is encouraging miners to sell through official channels rather than turning to illicit buyers.
This approach aims to curb illegal exports and boost gold deliveries through formal systems, which are crucial for meeting the country’s gold production target.
In addition to the Gold Mobilisation Exercises, the government is enhancing efforts to monitor mining activities and strengthen border security to prevent illegal exports.
Increasing surveillance at mining sites and reinforcing border controls will help ensure that Zimbabwe’s gold resources are safeguarded and contribute to the nation’s economic development.
Minister Chitando further emphasised the need for vigilance and ongoing collaboration to protect the country’s mineral resources:
“As we move forward, we must remain vigilant against illicit activities and smuggling. The inherent value of gold necessitates a continued collaborative effort amongst all stakeholders to safeguard this precious resource for the benefit of Zimbabwe.”
Through sustained efforts and a commitment to formalising the gold trade, Zimbabwe aims to reduce mineral leakages and ensure its resources contribute to the country’s prosperity, providing both economic growth and long-term stability for the sector.
