Mining ZimbabweLatest Mining News, Policy and Industry Updates

Zimbabwe’s new Mines and Minerals Bill, which will soon undergo nationwide consultations before gazetting, has been described as the most comprehensive attempt yet to integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) obligations into mining regulation.

By Ryan Chigoche

The draft law not only strengthens environmental protection and social accountability but also ties compliance directly to the preservation of mining rights, something the current Mines and Minerals Act largely ignores.

The Mines and Minerals Bill 2025 was published by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development in early 2025 as part of Zimbabwe’s effort to modernise its mining legislation. It looks to replace the nearly three-decade-old Mines and Minerals Act [Chapter 21:05], aiming to address emerging challenges in the sector, including environmental protection, community rights, and governance standards, among other important issues to be corrected from the current Act.

In recent times, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles have become the global benchmark for sustainable business practices, and with the nature of its operations, the mining sector sits at the core of this shift. ESG frameworks demand that companies minimise environmental harm, build strong and respectful relationships with communities, and maintain transparent, ethical governance.

For mining, this means protecting ecosystems, ensuring fair labour conditions, supporting local development, and being held accountable for decisions that impact people and the planet.

One of the biggest ESG advances in the Bill is the requirement for miners to first acquire a social licence before being granted a full licence to carry out mining operations.

Under the existing Act governing the mining sector, environmental provisions are minimal and fragmented, with much responsibility left to the Environmental Management Act. Mining companies are not required to submit Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) before registering a title, and there are no explicit obligations for community engagement or benefit-sharing. Complaint mechanisms are weak, and forfeiture of rights is mostly tied to failure to work a claim, not to failure to protect the environment or engage communities.

The new Bill directly addresses these gaps. Clause 154 requires every mining leaseholder and special grant holder to submit a Statutory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and a Social Responsibility Certificate within 30 days of registration. This certificate, issued by a certified third party, confirms that miners are actively engaging surrounding communities, respecting cultural heritage sites, and delivering tangible social and economic benefits such as schools, clinics, and jobs.

Further strengthening this is the Bill’s link between ESG compliance and the preservation of mining rights—perhaps its most transformative change. Under current law, a miner can maintain rights even while damaging the environment, provided they “work the claim.” Under the new Bill, failure to meet EIA, Social Responsibility, or rehabilitation obligations can result in suspension or even forfeiture of mining titles.

This “use it responsibly or lose it” approach mirrors international best practices and sends a clear message that ESG obligations are not optional.

Empowering Communities and Strengthening Accountability

For the first time, communities and local authorities will have formal avenues to hold miners accountable. Clause 155 empowers the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and Rural District Councils (RDCs) to lodge complaints against miners who breach environmental or social obligations. If breaches are confirmed, the Provincial Mining Director can deny inspection certificates or suspend operations until defaults are remedied.

This is a stark improvement from the current Act, which gives communities little influence over mining operations in their areas. Now, communities can indirectly compel miners to comply, while the Minister retains powers under Clauses 182 and 183 to suspend rights for up to 60 days in environmental emergencies or impose conservation measures such as pollution controls.

An Environmental Fund to Guarantee Rehabilitation

Mine rehabilitation remains a major issue in Zimbabwe, primarily due to the legacy of unregulated mining practices and the financial burden of rehabilitating abandoned sites. This problem is compounded by the lack of comprehensive legislation enforcing mandatory rehabilitation by mining companies, risking long-term environmental damage, including water contamination and soil erosion.

A significant new addition is the Mining Industry Environmental Protection Fund (MIEPF), created under Clauses 180–191. Funded through insurance or a 0.1% gross mineral production levy, the MIEPF ensures that even if a company defaults, resources will be available for environmental rehabilitation, pollution control, and compensation for landholders affected by mining activities.

In contrast, the existing Act has no such fund, leaving communities and the government to deal with the aftermath when miners abandon polluted sites. The new Bill also establishes a multi-stakeholder committee, including EMA, the Ministry of Finance, the Chamber of Mines, and small-scale miners to manage the fund, adding much-needed transparency.

Closing the Governance Gap

Good governance is at the heart of effective ESG performance. It ensures companies are transparent, accountable, and managed with integrity, building trust with investors and communities alike. Without strong governance, even the best environmental and social initiatives can fall short, making it a critical foundation for sustainable business success.

The Bill modernises governance by introducing a digital cadastre for transparent tracking of licences and obligations. It requires independent third-party certification for social responsibility and mandates annual audits of the Environmental Protection Fund. By comparison, the current Act’s oversight structures are heavily centralised and opaque, making it difficult for communities or civil society to track what companies owe or deliver.

If enacted in its current form, the Mines and Minerals Bill will make Zimbabwe a regional leader in embedding ESG into mining law. For communities, it means stronger protections for land and livelihoods, and a louder voice in how mineral wealth is developed. For investors, it signals a more structured and transparent regulatory environment.

Zimbabwe’s investment landscape maintained strong momentum in the second quarter of 2025, buoyed by significant inflows into energy and mining projects, a surge in licence renewals, and the operationalisation of a key investor protection mechanism. The Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) reported issuing 190 new investment licences during the quarter, translating to a projected investment value of US$2.47 billion—a 36.3% increase compared to the same period last year.

By Ryan Chigoche

The energy sector emerged as the clear leader in terms of projected investment value, accounting for US$1.8 billion (74%) of total commitments. This growth was driven largely by renewable energy and power infrastructure projects, including a major natural gas and coal project in Gwayi, Lupane District, Matabeleland South Province. The single project alone contributed US$1.81 billion to the province’s investment projections, cementing its position as the top recipient of capital in Q2.

The mining sector, while second in terms of projected investment value at US$369.23 million (15.2%), recorded the highest number of new licences with 91 issued in the period. Although this represented a slight 8.2% decline compared to Q1 2025, it marked a 23.4% increase compared to the same quarter in 2024.

This sustained investor interest reflects the strong global appetite for Zimbabwe’s vast mineral resource potential, even as capital equipment from abroad continues to be a primary form of investment in the sector.

The symbiotic relationship between energy and mining was particularly evident in Q2 2025. Mining operations depend heavily on a reliable power supply for exploration, extraction, and processing, while energy projects benefit from demand driven by mining activity. This synergy not only enhances project viability but also creates a multiplier effect across the economy.

For instance, the Gwayi natural gas and coal project is expected to power both industrial and mining operations, lowering operational costs and supporting value addition in mineral beneficiation. This integrated approach highlights how energy investments are catalysing growth in mining and vice versa, ultimately driving Zimbabwe’s economic transformation.

Meanwhile, highlighting the strengthening of investor confidence, foreign currency equity injections accounted for 85.7% (US$2.12 billion) of total proposed investment in the quarter, marking a shift from Q1 2025 when capital equipment imports dominated.

As a result, actual investment inflows for monitored projects licensed between January 2022 and June 2025 stood at US$1.03 billion, representing 25% of total projected investment. This was a 13% increase from US$0.91 billion in Q1, underscoring improved capital absorption rates.

Licence renewals surged by 137% compared to Q1 2025, with 107 renewals processed and actualised investments valued at US$221.68 million.

The improved compliance has been attributed to ZIDA’s enhanced monitoring framework, which includes proactive follow-ups through email reminders and direct calls. The percentage of licences renewed within stipulated timelines improved to 24%, up from 15% in Q1 2025.

According to the agency in its report, a significant milestone for the quarter was the operationalisation of the Investor Grievance Response Mechanism (IGRM), which safeguards investor rights by addressing grievances stemming from government actions or policy shifts. This structured platform builds on reforms introduced under the ZIDA Act [Chapter 14:38], ensuring timely dispute resolution and minimising disruptions.

While energy and mining dominated projected investment, the manufacturing sector accounted for the largest share (62%) of actual investment inflows, followed by agriculture (20%), with services and mining each contributing 8%. This diverse performance demonstrates the breadth of investor interest across Zimbabwe’s economy.

The Q2 2025 results paint an encouraging picture of Zimbabwe’s evolving investment climate, characterised by regulatory reforms, strong investor confidence, and growing synergies between key sectors such as mining and energy.

As the country continues to build a reliable energy base, mining operations are expected to benefit from improved efficiency and cost structures, further attracting large-scale capital projects.

With just 29 days to go, Zimbabwe’s mining surveyors are preparing for what promises to be more than just an annual gathering. This year marks four decades of professional excellence, data integrity, and technical backbone in the country’s mining sector.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

The Association of Mine Surveyors of Zimbabwe (AMSZ) will host its 40th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Exhibition on the 28th and 29th of August 2025 at the Zimbabwe School of Mines in Bulawayo.

Under the theme “AMSZ @40: Surveying the Future – Advancing Data Integrity, Operational Excellence, and Investor Confidence for a Thriving Zimbabwean Mining Sector,” the event is not just a celebration of history — it’s a call to action for the future of Zimbabwean mining.

At a time when digital transformation, investment attraction, and operational efficiency are reshaping the mining landscape, the role of mine surveyors has never been more vital. The AGM will bring together seasoned professionals, students, mining companies, technology providers, government officials, and investors to discuss how surveying continues to anchor the success of exploration, production, compliance, and safety in Zimbabwe’s mining industry.

Why It Matters

Surveying has often been one of the unsung heroes of mining. Behind every shaft design, open pit plan, tailings dam, and underground expansion is a surveyor — ensuring that data is accurate, plans are feasible, and safety is guaranteed.

For the last 40 years, AMSZ has stood at the forefront of professionalising the surveying space, advocating for continuous learning, technological integration, and policy alignment. Now, with Zimbabwe’s mining industry eyeing a US$40 billion milestone and expanding its footprint in lithium, PGMs, and critical minerals, surveyors are under even more pressure to deliver precision under complexity.

What to Expect at the AGM and Exhibition

Day 1 (28 August) is reserved for AMSZ members only and will feature the formal Annual General Meeting (AGM) reports and internal resolutions.

Day 2 (29 August) is open to all and will feature technical presentations, exhibitions, and keynote addresses on modern trends, ESG-aligned mapping, drone technology, 3D and AI integration, and the regulatory implications of the new Mines and Minerals Bill on surveying.

Technology suppliers, instrument manufacturers, and software developers will be on hand to showcase the latest tools powering mine planning and real-time reporting. It’s also a space where young students and graduate surveyors will meet mentors and industry leaders.

Conference Fees

• Members: US$200 (includes lunch, merchandise, and access to both days)

• Students: Free for AMSZ student members

• Non-Members: US$350 (includes lunch & merchandise for the 29th only)

• Exhibitors: Contact AMSZ for partnership packages

Payment Deadlines

• Early bird: 31 July 2025

• Final registration: 22 August 2025

Contact Details
Phone: +263 773 302 920 / +263 773 254 961 / +263 774 460 911
Email: [email protected]

Celebrating 40 Years of Influence

AMSZ’s 40-year milestone represents not just survival, but growth. In an industry where the rules constantly change and technology is evolving, AMSZ has remained relevant. Through decades marked by economic sanctions, currency swings, global metal price fluctuations, and structural reforms, surveyors continued working — mapping boundaries, pegging claims, digitising orebody data, and ensuring mines stay compliant.

AMSZ’s influence extends beyond its membership — it speaks into national policy, educational curriculum design, and investor assurance. The new Mines and Minerals Bill, for instance, will impact surveying procedures, licensing expectations, and mine development protocols. AMSZ has been part of those consultations, ensuring that the voice of the professional is not lost in the noise.

The AGM isn’t just about technical jargon. It’s about building the next generation of surveyors — especially as the industry seeks to modernise and localise more talent. It’s also about reflecting on the responsibilities that come with data. With the mining sector under growing scrutiny for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) compliance, data integrity — and those who generate it — becomes mission critical.

This is not just a meet-up. It’s a platform where history meets the future. And for a sector that’s literally built on rock-solid foundations, AMSZ’s 40-year journey is one worth celebrating — and shaping for the next generation.

Mining Zimbabwe will be there to cover it all.

Despite global headwinds and a tough season for junior mining stocks, Namib Minerals is quietly proving that Zimbabwe’s mining story is not slowing down—in fact, it’s just getting started—with the ringing of the Nasdaq Closing Bell in New York. Far from a Wall Street fanfare, but serving as a bold declaration that Zimbabwe’s mineral sector remains a force worth watching, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

With Zimbabwean diplomats standing shoulder to shoulder with company executives on the Nasdaq stage, the message was unmistakable: Zimbabwe is not just talking investment—it is stepping onto the global stage to prove it means business.

Namib Minerals, a recently Nasdaq-listed mining company, is walking the talk. The company is already producing gold at How Mine and is now pursuing the revival of two strategic gold assets—Jumbo Mine in Mazowe and Redwing Mine in Penhalonga. It has also set its sights on critical minerals in the DRC—copper and cobalt—positioning itself within the heart of the global clean energy transition.

Bell-Ringing Beyond Symbolism

When Ibrahima Sory Tall, CEO of Namib Minerals, led the company’s delegation to ring the Nasdaq Closing Bell on July 25, it wasn’t just another box-ticking moment for a public company. This was a calculated move—one that showed intent, confidence, and most importantly, a firm belief in Zimbabwe as a viable destination for mining investment.

“This milestone reflects Zimbabwe’s renewed engagement with global markets,” Tall said, flanked by Zimbabwe’s UN delegation. “Through strong partnerships, responsible mining, and shared growth, we’re contributing to the evolution of Zimbabwe’s economy and its place in global markets.”

Also present at the event were Ambassador Taonga Mushayavanhu, Zimbabwe’s Permanent Representative to the UN, and Minister Plenipotentiary Donald Tatenda Charumbira—signaling state-level backing of Namib’s mission and model. This wasn’t a photo-op—it was a diplomatic endorsement of a company stepping up where others have pulled out or stood still.

Jumbo and Redwing: From Abandonment to Revival

The company’s $400 million capital raise plans are not mere projections. Namib is actively seeking strategic investors to breathe life back into Jumbo Mine in Mazowe and Redwing Mine in Penhalonga—two mines that have seen better days. Once jewels in Zimbabwe’s gold belt, these sites were reduced to conflict zones of artisanal mining, with fatal accidents, lawlessness, and environmental degradation defining their recent legacy.

By taking over these assets, Namib isn’t just reviving dormant gold deposits—it’s reclaiming lost ground and reintroducing order where chaos reigned. In Mazowe and Penhalonga, Namib’s entry offers not just jobs, but structure. It offers a roadmap for what responsible small-to-mid-scale mining investment can look like.

The decision to go public on Nasdaq gives Namib the financial tools—and scrutiny—to handle these revivals with transparency. Investors will demand accountability. Communities will demand impact. And if Namib gets this right, it could set a precedent for how other abandoned assets can be turned around.

Betting on Gold, Banking on Green

While Zimbabwe is central to Namib’s gold play, the bigger picture lies in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Namib is positioning itself in the copper and cobalt space—two minerals that are the backbone of the electric vehicle (EV) and battery manufacturing industries.

In a world rapidly shifting toward clean energy, demand for critical minerals is not a passing phase—it’s the new arms race. As the United States ramps up pressure to secure critical mineral supply chains outside of China, and Beijing itself continues to dominate rare earth magnet exports, African nations rich in these minerals are becoming the new geopolitical battleground.

Namib’s move into copper and cobalt isn’t a trend-following gimmick. It’s a strategic pivot. Zimbabwe’s gold might be the foundation, but DRC’s critical minerals could be the future engine.

Why This Matters: Zimbabwe’s Rebranding Needs Stories Like This

Its listing on Nasdaq isn’t just a corporate milestone; it’s a public rebranding of Zimbabwean mining as a sector that can attract sophisticated, ESG-conscious capital. This is no small thing.

In the same year that global giants are trimming PGM operations and investors are fretting about soft commodity prices, Namib is leaning in—betting that Zimbabwe has more to offer than just history and headlines.

Investor Attention Is Now Turned Toward Outcomes

Of course, promises don’t build mines. They don’t create jobs or deliver ounces. What happens next matters more than any bell ceremony.

Will Namib secure the $400 million it seeks without diluting its core vision? Will its team implement world-class safety and community engagement at Jumbo and Redwing? Will it resist the temptation to cut corners, even when commodity cycles fluctuate?

These are the questions that matter now. But one thing is already clear: Namib Minerals has opened the door—not just for itself, but for Zimbabwe.

If they walk through it successfully, they won’t just mine gold. They’ll mine trust. And in a country like Zimbabwe—that might be the rarest resource of all.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices are slowly becoming a central theme in global mining discourse. However, in Zimbabwe, one of Africa’s key mineral producers, the ESG conversation remains stuck somewhere between boardroom presentations and glossy compliance reports, with very little filtering down to the people and places mining directly impacts, ESG expert Tafara Chiremba told Mining Zimbabwe.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Chiremba, a leading expert on sustainable mining from the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation (ZELO), formerly known as the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA), when asked whether ESG has been genuinely integrated into the core strategy of Zimbabwean mining operations or is still being treated as a checkbox obligation, didn’t mince his words: “It is largely a compliance issue so far.”

That honest admission is both revealing and unsettling.

Across several forums, from policy roundtables to mine site inspections, ESG has become the most thrown-around term in corporate mining language. But as Chiremba’s insights reveal, the reality on the ground is starkly different. ESG in Zimbabwe’s mining sector, for the most part, is yet to transcend performative declarations and become the transformative tool it was intended to be.

Tick-Box ESG: A Symptom of Shallow Integration

Zimbabwe’s mining sector has no shortage of ESG commitments on paper. Companies speak glowingly of sustainability, stakeholder inclusion, environmental stewardship, and community empowerment. Yet, when the public ESG reports land, they often feel like documents prepared to satisfy investor expectations, not to reflect lived community experiences.

Chiremba explains that what’s missing is not just the reporting, it’s the actual process behind it.

“Many companies avoid the genuine processes and go straight to the report, just for compliance purposes,” he noted.

It’s not that ESG reporting itself is flawed. In fact, frameworks like the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), one of the most widely accepted sustainability reporting models, provide a thorough, internationally respected blueprint. The real issue is that Zimbabwean mining companies, particularly those operating in the small-scale mining to mid-tier space, often sidestep the rigorous foundational work required to make ESG meaningful.

The Real ESG Process — What Companies Are Skipping

Chiremba laid out what proper ESG integration actually looks like, highlighting that true sustainability is not a paragraph in an annual report, it’s a living, evolving system.

The process begins at the top. “Development of governance systems is the first step,” Chiremba explained. “You need buy-in from leadership from the boardroom to shaft.”

From there, a mining company must:

• Develop an ESG strategy and goals after wide consultations with stakeholders not just investors, but host communities, regulators, employees, and civil society.

• Conduct a materiality assessment to understand what issues matter most to each stakeholder group.

• Undertake due diligence and comprehensive risk assessment, then craft a risk management plan that includes the community.

• Identify value creation opportunities — turning CSR into more than a donation, but a means of sustainable economic empowerment.

• Implement actual CSR or community development projects that go beyond window dressing.

• Adopt a reporting framework that speaks to all material topics, not just what looks good to financiers.

• Most importantly, continuously assess and review ESG systems, especially the relevance of material topics in collaboration with communities.

It’s a cycle of listening, acting, evaluating, and improving. That is what’s missing in most ESG efforts in Zimbabwe.

The Cost of Cosmetic ESG

When ESG is done only for compliance, communities suffer. Promises are made but not kept. Projects are launched but abandoned. And worse, host communities lose trust not just in mining companies, but in the entire governance ecosystem that is supposed to regulate them.

A mine may claim to be climate-sensitive, yet dump effluent into rivers. It may claim stakeholder engagement, yet leave local voices out of planning processes. These contradictions breed resentment and eventually, resistance.

Mining firms that skip foundational ESG processes also end up missing out on long-term value: fewer partnerships, lower investor confidence, and growing regulatory risks. In a world increasingly attuned to ESG scoring, half-measures are fast becoming liabilities.

What Zimbabwe’s Mining Sector Must Do

Chiremba’s recommendation is clear: shift from cosmetic compliance to process-driven sustainability.

Zimbabwean mining companies must treat ESG not as a hurdle to jump over but as a tool to transform how they operate. ESG should no longer be the responsibility of a lone officer tucked in some corner of the office. It should be embedded in operations, finance, human resources, health and safety, procurement, and most importantly, community relations.

Local communities should no longer be passive recipients of corporate social responsibility. They must become co-creators of sustainability strategies. They should be trained, resourced, and empowered to monitor air, water, and land use — and to hold companies accountable in real time.

If mining is to remain viable in Zimbabwe, ESG must stop being a buzzword and start being a culture.