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Zimbabwe’s newly appointed Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Dr Polite Kambamura, has declared an immediate end to the era of reckless, unregulated extraction, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Framing his tenure as a decisive reset, the minister is placing a laser focus on “quality investors” while unequivocally stating that “the issue of mining all over is now gone.”
This stance, articulated in his first public remarks since taking office, introduces a stringent filter for capital, prioritising strategic, responsible, and law-abiding partners over the rush for any and all investment that has historically led to environmental degradation, community conflict, and revenue leakage.
Minister Kambamura’s comments serve as a direct correction to the perceived excesses of the recent past. While reaffirming President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s foundational open-for-business policy, he made clear that the phrase had been dangerously misinterpreted. “The President has said Zimbabwe is open for business, but some people have taken that to mean otherwise,” Kambamura stated, drawing a clear line in the sand.
This “otherwise” is a pointed reference to a pattern of speculative and illicit mining operations that have plagued the sector. These range from poorly capitalised juniors acquiring vast claims only to flip them, to well-connected actors engaging in “pegging and so forth” without community consultation or proper environmental plans. The result has often been “haphazard mining”—short-term exploitation that leaves long-term scars.
So, what defines a “quality investor” under Kambamura’s new regime? His framework rests on three non-negotiable pillars:
Respect for Sovereignty and Law: Investors must demonstrate a firm commitment to operating within Zimbabwe’s legal framework, not seeking loopholes or relying on political patronage to circumvent regulations. This includes strict adherence to revised indigenisation laws, tax codes, and newly emphasised export controls designed to halt mineral smuggling.
Deep Community Integration as a Prerequisite: Consultation is no longer an afterthought. “Respecting the communities… consultation with the communities prior to mining and pegging” is now a mandatory first step. This policy aims to prevent the all-too-common clashes between mining companies and local populations, ensuring social licence is secured through genuine partnership and shared benefit plans before a single hectare is claimed.
Strategic Alignment with National Goals: A quality investor is one whose operational plan and capital commitment advance Zimbabwe’s macroeconomic objectives, particularly the goal of becoming an upper-middle-income economy by 2030. This means investors who bring not just extraction, but value addition: building processing plants, transferring technology, and developing local skills.
The declaration that “the issue of mining all over is now gone” is perhaps the most significant operational shift. It signals the end of the free-for-all claim staking that has led to inefficient, fragmented, and environmentally damaging operations.
This new approach calls for:
Scientifically Planned Exploration: Future mining will be guided by comprehensive national geological data, directing investment to the most viable and strategic deposits rather than allowing speculative pegging in ecologically or socially sensitive zones.
Consolidation and Formalisation: A push to formalise the chaotic artisanal sector and consolidate small, inefficient claims into larger, economically sustainable blocks that can support modern, regulated operations.
Strict Zoning and Land-Use Planning: Close coordination with environmental, local government, and agricultural authorities to ensure mining occurs in appropriately designated areas, protecting food security and critical ecosystems.
This recalibration will immediately reshape Zimbabwe’s investment landscape. Junior explorers and short-term speculators may find the doors closing, while major, well-capitalised firms with proven ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) credentials and long-term value-addition strategies will be positioned as preferred partners.
The policy plays directly into global trends. Western and multilateral financial institutions are increasingly tying funding to strict ESG compliance. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s vast lithium reserves—critical for the global energy transition—are attracting battery manufacturers who require large, stable, and ethically sourced supply chains. Kambamura’s framework is designed to make Zimbabwe a more credible partner for this high-stakes market.
Announcing the policy is one thing; enforcing it is another. The minister faces formidable obstacles:
Rooting Out Entrenched Interests: The “haphazard mining” model has benefited powerful political and security sector elites. Resisting their pressure will be a critical test of the policy’s integrity.
Building Institutional Capacity: The ministry must rapidly enhance its own capacity to scrutinise investors, monitor compliance, and enforce regulations—a task that has historically been hampered by limited resources.
Balancing Speed and Scrutiny: As the government urgently seeks foreign investment to bolster its struggling economy, it must avoid the temptation to bypass its own new rules for ostensibly “quick-win” deals.
Minister Polite Kambamura’s first message is not one of bland reassurance to the global market. It is a conditional invitation and a stark warning. Zimbabwe remains open for business, but on its own terms—terms that prioritise sustainable national development over rapid, reckless extraction.
By demanding quality investment and outlawing haphazard mining, he is attempting to lay a new foundation for the sector. If successfully implemented, this shift could begin to convert Zimbabwe’s subterranean wealth into visible, lasting above-ground prosperity. If it fails, it will join a long list of unmet reforms. The world’s mining giants, from Johannesburg to London to Beijing, are now carefully watching to see if the words will become reality.
