Mining ZimbabweLatest Mining News, Policy and Industry Updates

Diamond miner RZM Murowa has solidified its status as a leader in workplace safety after securing two top honours at the 62nd National Social Security Authority (NSSA) Safety and Health at Work (SHAW) Conference Awards held in Victoria Falls last month, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

The diamond miner shone brightly, winning the coveted Gold Award in the competitive Mining Sector and a Bronze Award in the Provincial Sector for the Gweru Region. These accolades, conferred under the theme “Occupational Safety and Health: Technology and the Future of Work,” celebrate organisations that demonstrate an unwavering commitment to protecting their employees.

The double victory underscores RZM Murowa’s dedication to building a world-class safety culture.

In a statement, an RZM Murowa spokesperson said, “These awards reflect our ongoing commitment to prioritising the health, safety, and well-being of our people. Our employees are the backbone of our operations, and we are proud to be recognised for creating a workplace where safety, health, and environmental stewardship are core operating principles.”

This commitment is clearly reflected in the numbers. The company has maintained a fatality-free record since 2020 and recorded zero Lost Time Injuries in 2024—a remarkable achievement equating to 1.4 million fatality-free shifts. This stellar performance is driven by a deeply embedded “Zero Harm” culture, guided by the company’s firm motto: “If it cannot be done safely, it cannot be done here.”

Beyond its own workforce, RZM Murowa extends its health and wellness mandate to the surrounding communities. Its state-of-the-art on-site medical centre provides vital healthcare services that were previously inaccessible to many locals, strengthening community ties. Notably, nearly 40% of the company’s workforce is drawn from these neighbouring areas.

Environmental stewardship is another key pillar of the company’s ethos. Operating in an arid region that hosts endangered species, RZM Murowa has implemented robust biodiversity protection initiatives, greenhouse gas monitoring, and wastewater recycling systems. Employees actively participate in national clean-up campaigns and on-site recycling programmes.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has commended Zimbabwe for a stronger-than-expected economic rebound in 2025, explicitly highlighting the mining sector’s “solid performance” as a key driver of this growth, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

The endorsement came from an IMF staff team led by Mr. Wojciech Maliszewski, which concluded a visit to Harare from October 29 to November 5, 2025. In an end-of-mission press release, the team pointed to a recovery in agriculture, a stable foreign exchange rate, and a significant easing of inflation as other critical factors behind the positive economic momentum, which is expected to continue into 2026.

The statement provides a vote of confidence for the country’s key extractive industry, noting that the “solid performances in mining” have been instrumental in the overall recovery.

During the visit, the IMF team held productive discussions with authorities, including the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Hon. Mthuli Ncube, and the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Dr. John Mushayavanhu.

A central theme of the talks was the critical importance of reinforcing fiscal discipline in the upcoming 2026 national budget. The IMF emphasised the need to align government expenditures with revenues and sustainable financing sources to preserve the recent economic gains.

“Discussions in Harare focused on enhancing fiscal discipline in the 2026 budget framework by aligning expenditures with revenues and available non-inflationary financing sources, while avoiding the accumulation of expenditure arrears,” Mr Maliszewski stated.

For the mining sector, which is a major contributor to government revenues, this underscores the importance of a predictable and stable fiscal environment. The IMF recommended “adopting credible revenue projections supported by concrete policy and administrative tax measures for 2026,” a move that would directly impact how the sector is taxed and regulated.

The IMF mission is part of the groundwork for a potential Staff-Monitored Program (SMP). The Fund’s staff indicated they are ready to resume formal discussions on such a program once there is further progress on key policy issues, including the finalisation of a 2026 budget that aligns with the “objective of sustaining macroeconomic stability.”

This call for fiscal prudence signals to investors in the mining sector and beyond that the authorities are being encouraged to consolidate the current stability, creating a more attractive and less inflationary environment for future investment and growth.

In a landmark ceremony that signals a new chapter for Zimbabwe’s economic development, the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Dangote Group today signed a comprehensive US$1 billion investment agreement that positions mining at the forefront of the country’s industrial transformation, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

The signing ceremony, held at the State House and witnessed by His Excellency President Emmerson D. Mnangagwa, represents one of the largest private investment commitments to Zimbabwe in over a decade and culminates years of negotiations between the African industrial giant and the southern African nation.

The agreement was formally signed between Nigeria’s diversified conglomerate, represented by Chairman Aliko Dangote, and Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance and Investment Promotion, cementing a partnership that promises to reshape multiple sectors of the economy. This historic deal marks a decisive breakthrough for President Mnangagwa’s administration and validates its persistent efforts to attract major foreign investment under the “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” mantra.

The atmosphere at State House was celebratory yet businesslike, reflecting the significance of the moment for a nation that has faced economic challenges for nearly two decades. President Mnangagwa, addressing gathered dignitaries and press after the signing, emphasized the transformative potential of this investment, stating that it aligns perfectly with the government’s Vision 2030, which aims to elevate Zimbabwe to a prosperous, industrialized upper-middle-income economy within the next seven years.

The centerpiece of this massive investment is an integrated industrial complex that will fundamentally transform Zimbabwe’s mining landscape. At its core will be a fully integrated cement manufacturing facility supported by dedicated limestone quarries and grinding plants, representing the most significant development in the country’s construction materials sector in living memory. This complex will not only target Zimbabwe’s substantial limestone resources but will also include complementary coal mining operations and a power generation facility designed to serve both the industrial complex and contribute to the national grid.

What makes this investment particularly noteworthy is its vertical integration approach, a hallmark of Dangote’s successful business model across Africa. By controlling the entire production chain from raw material extraction to finished product, the conglomerate ensures operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This methodology has proven successful in Dangote’s operations across seventeen other African countries and now extends to Zimbabwe as the eighteenth nation to host the industrial giant’s diversified interests.

The mining component of this agreement goes beyond simple extraction, embodying a comprehensive minerals development strategy that includes value addition and beneficiation. The limestone operations will move Zimbabwe’s mining profile from primarily being a supplier of raw materials to becoming a manufacturer of finished construction products with potential for regional export. Similarly, the coal mining operations will serve both energy needs and industrial processes, creating a symbiotic relationship between different elements of the industrial complex.

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest individual, spoke candidly about his renewed confidence in Zimbabwe after previous investment attempts failed to materialize in 2015 and 2018. “There’s been quite a lot of change between when we came and now,” Dangote told journalists after his meeting with President Mnangagwa. “The government is solid… When you look at what His Excellency has done in turning the economy around, that gave us the confidence that, look, this is the right time for us to come and invest. When you pass an exam, people have to come and give you a good mark. His Excellency has passed that exam, that’s why we’re here.”

This sentiment echoes the dramatic shift in investor confidence that the Mnangagwa administration has worked to cultivate since coming to power. The successful signing of this agreement suggests that Zimbabwe’s international re-engagement efforts and domestic economic reforms are beginning to yield tangible results in the form of high-value foreign direct investment.

The discussions leading to today’s signing covered critical operational details including mining concessions, tax incentives, investment security, and work permits for technical experts – all issues that had reportedly complicated previous investment attempts. The resolution of these matters indicates a more flexible and pragmatic approach from both parties, with the Zimbabwean government demonstrating its willingness to provide the necessary assurances to secure this landmark investment.

Beyond the core mining and industrial components, the agreement encompasses broader economic development initiatives that leverage Dangote Group’s expertise across multiple sectors. The petroleum pipeline project, which will stretch over 2,200 kilometers from Walvis Bay in Namibia through to Bulawayo and eventually reach Harare via Gweru, represents critical energy infrastructure that will enhance regional integration and energy security. This transnational project will connect Zimbabwe to Namibian port facilities and create a fuel distribution network benefiting multiple SADC countries.

In the agricultural sector, the agreement addresses what Dangote officials described as a “missing link” in Zimbabwe’s farming economy – fertiliser production. Despite being an accomplished agricultural economy with significant potential to contribute to subregional food security, as recognised by the World Food Programme, Zimbabwe has struggled with fertiliser affordability and availability, rendering its agricultural commodities uncompetitive in global markets. The establishment of domestic fertiliser manufacturing capabilities will directly address this constraint and potentially unleash greater productivity across the country’s farming sector.

The employment implications of this comprehensive investment are substantial, with projections suggesting thousands of direct jobs will be created during both construction and operational phases, complemented by even greater numbers of indirect employment opportunities through supply chains and service providers. This job creation focus aligns with government priorities to address youth unemployment and underemployment through industrial development.

Regional economic implications are equally significant. Zimbabwe’s strategic location bordering South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, and Mozambique positions it as a potential hub for supplying construction materials, energy, and agricultural inputs to neighbouring countries. The Beitbridge border post, one of the busiest inland ports in southern Africa, could facilitate the distribution of Dangote products throughout the region, potentially making Zimbabwe an export platform for the conglomerate’s southern African operations.

The successful conclusion of this agreement also carries symbolic importance beyond its economic dimensions. As one of Africa’s most recognised business leaders, Aliko Dangote’s decision to commit significant resources to Zimbabwe sends a powerful signal to other international investors who may have been watching from the sidelines. The comprehensive nature of the investment – spanning mining, energy, infrastructure, and agriculture – demonstrates confidence across multiple sectors of the Zimbabwean economy.

Implementation timelines and specific locations for the various components of the investment are expected to be announced in the coming weeks as technical teams from both sides transition from negotiation to execution. The scale of the projects suggests a phased approach will be necessary, with initial activities likely focusing on site preparation and preliminary construction.

Today’s signing at State House, therefore, represents not merely a contractual formality but a watershed moment in Zimbabwe’s contemporary economic history. The partnership between the Government of Zimbabwe and the Dangote Group has the potential to catalyse broader industrial development, enhance regional integration, create substantial employment, and fundamentally reposition Zimbabwe’s mining sector within the African context.

Workers at RioZim Limited’s Cam & Motor Mine have openly challenged their own union’s decision to seek corporate rescue for the company, revealing that management has begun paying outstanding salary arrears and questioning the necessity of court intervention, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

In a strongly worded letter dated 10 November 2025, addressed to the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and the National Employment Council for the Mining Industry, the Cam & Motor Mine Workers’ Committee expressed strong objection to the Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU)’s application to place RioZim under corporate rescue.

The workers’ representatives, Chairman Isaac Mariki and Secretary Velord Mashapa, asserted that the union’s decision “was made without consultation with the Workers’ Committee or the majority of employees.” They emphasised that ZDAMWU “represents only a minority of the workforce,” adding that “several of its own members have expressed disagreement with the action taken.”

The letter states that the corporate rescue application “has caused confusion and uncertainty at the workplace and does not reflect the collective position of the employees, most of whom wish to see the company recover through ongoing operational efforts rather than through court intervention.”

The workers’ position appears supported by recent developments on the ground. When contacted by Mining Zimbabwe, several employees confirmed they have begun receiving partial payments for salary arrears dating from January to June, with each worker being paid 50 per cent of what they are owed, starting a month ago. This progress in settling outstanding wages has led many workers to question the urgency of corporate rescue proceedings.

The Workers’ Committee argues that ZDAMWU’s actions violate the Labour Act, stating that the union’s decision is “unfair and contrary to the Labour Act Chapter 28:01, which requires majority opinion and unanimous employee consent in significant decisions affecting employees’ interests.”

The dispute emerges against the backdrop of RioZim’s broader restructuring efforts. Chairman Caleb Dengu, in his review of the group’s interim financial results for the half year ended 30 June 2025, acknowledged “a particularly challenging period for the Group, marked by significantly reduced production across our mining operations.” However, he also pointed to “early signs of macroeconomic stability” and confirmed that “plans to fully restart operations at Cam & Motor Mine are well underway, with full production expected before year-end.”

The workers have appealed for urgent intervention from labour authorities to investigate the union’s conduct and ensure it respects the rights of the majority of employees who prefer to allow the company’s ongoing recovery efforts to proceed without court-supervised restructuring.