Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR), Zimbabwe’s sole authorised gold buyer and exporter, is reshaping the country’s approach to artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) through a multi-faceted strategy centred on responsible sourcing, formalisation, community empowerment, and logistical innovation, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Speaking at the PlanetGold Zimbabwe ASGM Strategy Dialogue in Harare on Wednesday, FGR ASM Manager Francis Maidza outlined how the organisation is redefining gold procurement by expanding buying infrastructure, improving traceability, and building stronger, more sustainable relationships with small-scale miners.
Maidza underscored that the ASM sector remains the backbone of Zimbabwe’s gold output, contributing nearly 60% of national deliveries. Recognising the sector’s importance, Fidelity is working to close the formalisation gap by introducing tributary agreements with local communities. Through these agreements, miners are given legal rights to operate, and Fidelity supports them with mining and drilling services, processing facilities, and on-site gold purchasing. This initiative ensures communities are not only legally compliant but also integrated into the broader mining economy.
“We want to empower local communities by giving them tools to mine safely and legally,” said Maidza. “Through these tributary agreements, we are doing more than just buying gold — we are supporting livelihoods and building structured mining ecosystems.”
Key to Fidelity’s responsible sourcing strategy is the implementation of a gold traceability system, designed to follow gold from mine to market.
“Globally, traceability is becoming critical to ensure gold is not sourced from conflicted or illicit areas,” Maidza said. “We are developing a robust framework that will meet international benchmarks, especially the OECD guidelines. This is vital for our accreditation with platforms like the Dubai Commodity Exchange.”
According to Maidza, Fidelity is about 60% toward meeting its 2025 traceability goals. Once fully implemented, the system will enhance Zimbabwe’s ability to trade clean, conflict-free gold on international markets, boosting trust and prices while curbing smuggling and illicit trade.
Maidza also announced the rollout of mobile gold-buying units across Zimbabwe, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at reducing the distance miners must travel to sell their gold.
“We now have two mobile units operating, and more are on the way. These units will bring our services directly to remote mining areas, improving convenience, transparency, and compliance,” he said.
In addition to the mobile units, Fidelity operates about 17 fixed gold-buying centres and has licensed more than 80 buying agents. This network is being rapidly expanded to meet rising demand and ensure miners have accessible, formal channels through which to sell their product.
“If there is gold, we want to be there,” Maidza stressed.
In a strong show of support for women in mining, Maidza highlighted Fidelity’s commitment to gender-inclusive development. The organisation has introduced a gold development-initiated fund, which provides loans for equipment purchases and start-up capital for women miners.
“We are there to support the girl child,” he declared, noting that start-up kits with basic mining tools are being provided to help women establish their operations.
FGR is also advocating for government collaboration to enhance the policy environment for ASM growth. Maidza urged stakeholders to take advantage of the recently gazetted statutory instrument scrapping VAT on gold sales to Fidelity.
“This policy change is an opportunity to improve liquidity and encourage more miners to sell through formal channels. It’s a win-win,” he said.
Despite ongoing challenges, such as power supply disruptions, water-related delivery fluctuations, and the need for a clear legal framework to manage violations, Fidelity remains committed to engaging regulators, miners, and civil society in a shared mission. This includes close cooperation with bodies such as the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) and the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC).
“We can’t tackle these issues alone. Formalising the sector and ensuring responsible sourcing require collaboration at every level,” Maidza said.
As Zimbabwe aims to maximise its gold potential while safeguarding its communities and environment, Fidelity’s initiatives stand out as a model for ethical, inclusive, and forward-looking mineral governance. Through its investments in infrastructure, policy advocacy, traceability systems, and community empowerment, FGR is proving that the future of gold in Zimbabwe must be both profitable and principled.
