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Zimbabwe’s push for local content and beneficiation has come under fresh scrutiny after new trade data revealed a record US$23.2 million import bill for specialised underground mining machinery in April 2026, exposing the extent to which the country’s mining boom continues to depend on foreign manufacturers, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

Latest figures from ZimStat show that imports of self-propelled coal and rock cutters and tunnelling machinery surged from just US$604,000 in March to US$23.2 million in April, an increase of more than US$22.6 million in a single month.

The unprecedented jump points to major mining projects entering critical development and commissioning phases. Yet it also highlights a less visible side of Zimbabwe’s mining growth story: some of the largest procurement contracts generated by the sector are still being awarded outside the country.

The April figure was more than fourteen times larger than any previous monthly import recorded in the category. Between January 2021 and April 2026, monthly imports of tunnelling machinery had never exceeded US$1.6 million.

At the same time, imports of self-propelled bulldozers and excavators climbed to a record US$17.2 million in April from US$16.6 million in March, extending a steady upward trend that has accelerated alongside mining expansion across the country.

Together, the figures paint a picture of an industry investing heavily in new capacity. However, they also expose a growing gap between mineral development and local industrial participation.

For every dollar spent on imported tunnelling machines, underground development equipment, and specialised mining machinery, the associated manufacturing, fabrication, and engineering value is largely captured outside Zimbabwe. While local businesses benefit from mining-related spending on transport, fuel, construction materials, security services, and labour, the highest-value equipment purchases continue to flow offshore.

Policy Ambition Meets Reality

The data arrives at a time when Government is intensifying its push for beneficiation, value addition, and local content through the National Development Strategy 2 and the newly launched Local Content Strategy. The stated ambition is to significantly raise local participation in strategic sectors over the coming decade.

But the April import figures highlight a critical missing link: enforceable procurement targets. Zimbabwe has no binding requirement for mining companies to source specialised underground equipment locally.

Compare that to Chile, which mandates that mining companies above a certain size report local procurement annually, with targets that rise over a decade. Or South Africa’s Mining Charter, which includes local content thresholds for capital goods. Without similar teeth, Zimbabwe’s strategy remains largely aspirational.

The foreign currency implications are stark. Mining exports generate billions of dollars annually, but large-scale equipment imports drain a substantial portion of those earnings. While such machinery is essential for future production growth, the immediate benefits of manufacturing and assembly accrue to industrial centres outside Zimbabwe.

Two Stories, One Question

The April surge therefore tells two stories. One is of growing investor confidence and a robust pipeline of mining projects moving towards production. The other is of a policy gap that allows record mining investment to be accompanied by record machinery imports with little structural benefit to local industry.

Until Zimbabwe develops stronger capabilities in mining equipment manufacturing, assembly, and engineering services, or at least sets phased, enforceable local-content targets, some of the largest cheques written during the country’s mining boom will continue to support factories beyond its borders.

The question for policymakers is no longer whether Zimbabwe can attract mining investment. It clearly can. The question is whether the next phase of the mining boom will finally write local factories into the story, or whether April’s US$23.2 million import bill will become a new baseline rather than an anomaly.

Artisanal deliveries climb to 2,740 kg, up 7.4% year-on-year, as large-scale output holds steady. The first five months of 2026 reach 16.59 tonnes, keeping the 50-tonne national target firmly on track.

Gold deliveries to Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) recorded their strongest monthly performance so far this year in May 2026, driven by a sharp rebound in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) output, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Total deliveries for the month reached 3,951.0136 kg, an 18.8% increase from April 2026’s 3,324.5926 kg and an 11.5% rise compared to May 2025’s 3,542.1734 kg, according to official FGR statistics obtained by this publication.

The ASM sector, which contributes roughly three-quarters of national gold production, led the charge. ASM deliveries in May 2026 stood at 2,740.7582 kg, up 29.9% from April’s 2,110.6550 kg and 7.4% higher than May 2025’s 2,552.0986 kg. The month-on-month surge is the largest recorded since the formalisation drive accelerated in late 2025, signalling that policy interventions and improved access to buying centres are beginning to bear fruit.

Large-scale miners delivered 1,210.2554 kg in May, virtually unchanged from April’s 1,213.9376 kg—a negligible 0.3% decline month-on-month. However, compared to May 2025’s 990.0748 kg, large-scale output jumped 22.2%, reflecting the steady recovery of capitalised mines following years of underinvestment.

First Five Months: 2026 Extends Lead Over 2025

Cumulative deliveries for the first five months of 2026 now stand at 16,587.5302 kg, compared to 16,013.8013 kg in the same period of 2025, representing a 3.6% increase. The widening margin is encouraging, especially given that April 2026 had briefly trailed April 2025 on a year-on-year basis. May’s strong performance has reversed that temporary softness.

At this pace, Zimbabwe has already delivered over 16.5 tonnes of gold in the first five months, leaving 33.5 tonnes to reach the ambitious 50-tonne annual target. Historical production patterns show that the second and third quarters (May through September) are typically the strongest, as drier weather and post-harvest labour availability boost ASM activity.

50-Tonne Target: Within Striking Distance

To achieve 50 tonnes by year-end, Zimbabwe needs average monthly deliveries of approximately 4,180 kg for the remaining seven months (June–December). May’s 3,951 kg fell just 5.5% short of that required average—a gap that is well within seasonal norms. In 2025, monthly deliveries exceeded 4,000 kg in July (4,067 kg), August (4,134 kg), and September (4,254 kg). With new capacity coming online, including the phased reopening of Mazowe and Redwing under Namib Minerals, expanded ASM formalisation at Elvington and Amaveni, and the full rollout of FGR’s digital Gold Card system, surpassing 4,200 kg per month in the second half of 2026 is entirely plausible.

FGR’s own projections remain optimistic, citing the Gold Development Initiative Fund (GDIF) and the recently established Gold Trade Enforcement Unit (GTEU) as key levers to reduce leakage to parallel markets. Every kilogram recovered from informal channels directly boosts official delivery figures.

The 29.9% month-on-month jump in ASM deliveries is the clearest evidence yet that the formalisation drive is shifting from disruption to delivery. April’s year-on-year decline of 27.9% had raised concerns, but May’s 7.4% year-on-year growth suggests that the registration backlog and compliance adjustments are behind the sector.

The digital Gold Card system, now being rolled out across all mining provinces, has registered thousands of artisanal miners, granting them access to formal financing, equipment, and technical support.

Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) President Henrietta Rushwaya described May’s performance as “a turning point,” adding that “the ASM sector has proven its resilience and its capacity to grow within a formal framework. The 50-tonne target is no longer an aspiration—it is a realistic operational goal.”

While ASM grabbed the headlines, large-scale mining delivered a solid, if unspectacular, performance. May’s 1,210.2554 kg was essentially flat month-on-month but represented a 22.2% year-on-year increase, the sixth consecutive month of double-digit annual growth for the segment.

Kavango Resources PLC has entered into a partnership with Gwanda State University (GSU) focused on education, skills development, and research collaboration, a move that aligns with the government’s recently signalled intention to introduce mandatory student attachment policies in the mining sector, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

The London and TSX Venture Exchange-listed mining company this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the university aimed at expanding opportunities for student training, research collaboration, and industry exposure.

Under the agreement, GSU students will gain access to work-related learning placements, internships, and field projects, providing the practical experience increasingly required in Zimbabwe’s growing mining industry.

The partnership comes at a time when government is seeking greater involvement from mining companies in developing the next generation of professionals.

Shortly after taking office, Mines and Mining Development Minister Dr Polite Kambamura signalled plans to introduce compulsory attachment programmes for mining students. He also indicated that government was looking at mechanisms to strengthen skills and knowledge transfer across the sector, potentially requiring mining companies to play a more active role in training future industry talent.

While those proposals have not yet been formalised into policy, Kavango’s agreement with GSU reflects the direction government wants the industry to take.

Following the signing ceremony, Kavango Chief Operating Officer Alex Gorman and General Manager Irvin Nyamukondiwa toured GSU’s recently commissioned laboratory facilities alongside Vice-Chancellor Professor Doreen Zandile Moyo, Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr B. Moyo, Mrs M. Nkomo, and other faculty members.

The company described the laboratories as “an impressive investment in scientific research and practical training” and said it looked forward to exploring additional areas of collaboration with the institution.

“Developing the next generation of mining professionals is essential to the future of Zimbabwe’s mining sector,” Kavango said.

“We look forward to working closely with Gwanda State University to help build the skills and expertise needed for sustainable growth.”

Beyond the signing ceremony, the agreement speaks to a broader challenge facing Zimbabwe’s mining education system.

Over the past decade, universities and colleges have significantly expanded enrolment in mining-related programmes, producing a growing pool of graduates eager to enter the industry. However, attachment and employment opportunities have not expanded at the same pace, leaving many students struggling to secure the placements required to complete their studies.

Industry leaders have repeatedly warned that mining companies can no longer absorb the volume of students seeking industrial attachments. Economic pressures, operational constraints, and fluctuating commodity markets have further reduced the number of opportunities available to new entrants.

A senior executive at a leading mining company recently told Mining Zimbabwe that the situation had become increasingly difficult, with demand for placements far exceeding what the industry can realistically provide.

Against this backdrop, the Kavango-GSU partnership offers a practical example of how collaboration between mining companies and academic institutions can help ease the pressure. More importantly, it demonstrates how industry can begin addressing the skills gap and attachment shortage even before government makes such programmes mandatory.

Zimbabwe’s government is targeting the training and licensing of an estimated 600,000 artisanal miners through the Zimbabwe School of Mines (ZSM), as authorities seek to curb rising fatalities in a sector that has become increasingly important to the country’s mining industry, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Dr Thomas Utete Wushe, unveiled the ambitious target during a familiarisation tour of the school in Bulawayo, arguing that formalising the country’s vast artisanal mining workforce is critical to improving safety standards and reducing preventable deaths.

The push comes against the backdrop of worsening safety statistics. Sixty-four artisanal and small-scale miners died during the first quarter of 2026, a six per cent increase from the same period last year, underscoring the dangers that continue to plague the sector despite its growing contribution to mineral production.

“My challenge to the school and the ministry is to ensure that those 600,000 miners should be qualified and licensed to do what they are doing,” Dr Utete Wushe said.

To illustrate the scale of what he believes can be achieved, Dr Utete Wushe pointed to Zimbabwe’s driver licensing system, which has successfully trained and certified more than three million motorists.

“What we have achieved on the roads shows that the country can do the same for artisanal miners,” he said.

For Dr Utete Wushe, the case for training extends beyond compliance and professionalisation. He argued that equipping miners with the necessary skills and qualifications could significantly reduce the accidents and fatalities that have become synonymous with the sector.

“We need to start moving fast, because the moment we get that done, you obviously reduce that life-losing propensity associated with small-scale artisanal mining. The primary objective is safety. We should not lose a life,” he said, adding that safety should become the defining principle of Zimbabwe’s mining industry.

Dr Utete Wushe then challenged the Zimbabwe School of Mines to strengthen research and innovation aimed at addressing the sector’s safety challenges. He said the institution’s innovation hub should play a leading role in developing practical solutions capable of reducing accidents and improving mining practices.

“My call now is to strengthen your research so that you can create the future. We want this school charting the future through innovation. The moment we start celebrating high productivity, we have a tear to shed because we have lost a life. Can we, as a school, try to start changing that narrative where the story is only about higher production without the cost of life?” he concluded.

Over the years, large-scale mining companies have shown that sustained training, stronger safety systems, and professional standards can dramatically reduce workplace accidents. Government now wants those lessons extended to the artisanal and small-scale mining sector, where fatalities remain stubbornly high.

The push to train and license 600,000 artisanal miners signals a shift towards formalisation as a safety strategy. For the Zimbabwe School of Mines, the task is immense: equipping a vast workforce with the skills to mine responsibly while leading the innovation needed to ensure that rising mineral production no longer comes at the cost of human lives.

Two workers employed by independent contractors died in separate incidents at Sinomine Bikita Minerals, Zimbabwe’s largest lithium mining operation, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

The first incident occurred on 6 June 2026 at approximately 19:45 hours, when Mr Thomas Kaliveni (40), a dump truck operator employed by independent contractor WGB Kinsey & Company, sustained fatal injuries at a waste dump site.

The second, unrelated incident followed in the early hours of 7 June 2026, when a security guard employed by Rebnek Security, another independent contractor, was found unresponsive while on duty during a routine supervisory inspection.

In a statement issued on 8 June 2026, Bikita Minerals said investigations into the exact circumstances of the dump truck accident were ongoing and that no further details would be released at this stage out of respect for the families and the investigative process.

The company extended its “heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the deceased” and reaffirmed that “the safety, health, and well-being of everyone working at our operations remain a core priority.”