Mining ZimbabweLatest Mining News, Policy and Industry Updates

Zimbabwe is stepping up efforts to reform its mining sector, with the Responsible Mining Toolkit now in its final stages of development.

Spearheaded by the Zimbabwe Safety, Health and Environmental Council (ZIMSHEC), the initiative aims to tackle the rising number of mining disasters by promoting safer and more sustainable practices, especially among small-scale and artisanal miners.

The toolkit complements the Government’s Responsible Mining Audit, which enforces compliance with environmental, safety, and labour regulations across the industry.

ZIMSHEC Executive Director Philemon Mokuele confirmed that widespread consultations were conducted in Mberengwa and Gwanda, involving mine managers and key stakeholders from government agencies, local authorities, NGOs, and the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).

“We gathered frontline experiences to build a toolkit grounded in the real challenges miners face,” Mokuele said.

He emphasised the urgent need to formalise the artisanal mining sector, which often operates outside the law, posing serious health and environmental risks.

These include tuberculosis, silicosis, and noise-induced hearing loss, as well as widespread land degradation from reckless mining practices.

“Compliance remains low in the sector, which undermines formalisation efforts,” he noted. “This toolkit is designed to tackle those gaps head-on, offering clear, statutory-aligned guidelines for best practices in mining.”

As small-scale miners account for 60% of gold deliveries to Fidelity Printers and Refiners, their role in Zimbabwe’s mining-driven economy—contributing around 12% of GDP and the bulk of foreign exchange earnings—cannot be ignored.

ZIMSHEC has already rolled out safety training programs and PPE awareness campaigns, while investigating mining accident sites to uncover root causes. These insights directly inform the toolkit’s content.

With completion expected before year-end, the next steps include validation, nationwide training workshops, and adoption monitoring to ensure miners implement what they learn.

The urgency of these reforms is underscored by Zimbabwe’s mining death toll in 2023, which hit 237 fatalities—the worst in over five decades.

The government has repeatedly called for life-saving interventions, including proper drainage systems, reinforced mine supports, and real-time weather monitoring.

“This toolkit is more than a guide—it’s a lifeline,” Mokuele said. “Once launched, it will be distributed across all mining provinces to ensure maximum impact.”

Watch live the Caledonia Mining Solar plant Handover Ceremony to Cross Boundary Energy, Blanket Mine, Gwanda, Zimbabwe.

WATCH LIVE

In October 2024 Caledonia announced that it had signed a conditional sale agreement for the entire issued share capital of its Zimbabwe subsidiary, Caledonia Mining Services (Private) Limited, which owns and operates the 12.2MWac solar plant that supplies power to Blanket Mine. CMS was sold to CrossBoundary Energy Holdings (“CBE”) for $22.35 million, payable in cash, and the power generation of the solar plant will continue to be sold to Blanket Mine by way of a power purchase agreement.

Highlights

• Upon completion of the sale, Caledonia will realise a profit on the $14.3 million construction cost by selling the plant for $22.35 million.
• Completion of the sale will return capital to Caledonia at a key moment in the Company’s growth trajectory.
• Caledonia will retain the exclusive energy off-take, ensuring approximately a fifth of Blanket Mine’s daily electricity requirement continues to be met by renewable power.
• CBE has been invited to tender for an expansion of the solar plant to deliver further renewable energy to Blanket Mine.

The construction of the solar plant was initially financed by a registered offering of Caledonia’s shares in the US in 2020, and this raised $13 million through the issue of 597,963 shares.

Since commissioning in February 2023, the solar plant has generated over 47,350Mwh of power, and profits attributable to the solar plant for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $728,023. The power generated from the solar plant has significantly reduced the use of diesel generators and grid power at Blanket Mine, ensuring approximately a fifth of the mine’s daily electricity needs are met by solar power. The plant will continue to supply Blanket Mine under an exclusive power purchase agreement.

The sales consideration will be reinvested in Caledonia’s other projects that are expected to yield a higher return to our shareholders and will have the added benefit of focusing management’s attention on our core business of gold mining and exploration.

South African mining companies play a significant role in Zimbabwe’s mining industry through significant investments, ownership of key assets, and participation in joint ventures across platinum, gold, and infrastructure sectors.

Platinum Powerhouses: Implats, Sibanye, Valterra and Tharisa

Zimplats

Impala Platinum (Implats) holds an 87% stake in Zimplats, Zimbabwe’s largest platinum producer, operating across five underground mines and a smelter complex on the Great Dyke.

Mimosa

Implats also co-owns the Mimosa Mine in a 50/50 partnership with Sibanye-Stillwater, producing around 255 koz PGM concentrate per year.

Unki Mine

Recently owned by Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), Unki Mine is now owned by Valterra Platinum and produces an output of approximately 65 koz annually. Anglo still holds a 19.9% which it plans to reduce over time, but intends to do so responsibly and gradually. 

Tharisa & Karo SEZ

South Africa–listed Tharisa benefits from Zimbabwe’s special economic zone at Karo, where it holds a 27% indirect stake via Karo Zimbabwe, enjoying fiscal incentives in the Great Dyke region. 

Infrastructure & Support Services

Grindrod & Beitbridge–Bulawayo Railway (BBR)

South Africa’s Grindrod unit supports Zimbabwe’s freight rail revival by supplying locomotives and wagons to the BBR, aiding mineral export logistics.

AECI / AEL Mining Services

The Johannesburg‐based company supplies explosives and blasting services across Zimbabwean mine sites.

PPC Ltd

This South African cement conglomerate operates a cement factory and lime plant in Zimbabwe, serving mining infrastructure needs. The company operates multiple cement plants and a milling depot, contributing to the company’s overall capacity of around nine million tons of cement products annually.

South African firms contribute significantly to Zimbabwe’s mining GDP and foreign currency earnings. Revenue from Zimplats, Mimosa, and Unki alone accounts for over half of the nation’s exports. However, like all global operations, Zimbabwean affiliates face persistent challenges, including the PGM Price Slump.

Zimplats registered an $8.8 million loss in H2 2023, prompting voluntary job cuts and the deferment of capital-intensive projects.

Power shortages also impede operations across multiple mines, highlighting the need for sustainable energy solutions. This is also an open opportunity for investors intending to invest in the Energy sector.

However, despite these challenges, firms like Zimplats are maintaining investment momentum and remarkable CSR initiatives. A $1.8 billion expansion plan is currently underway, including smelter upgrades and solar power installations.

Zimbabwe’s success hinges on continued collaboration—partnering South African expertise with local policies to build resilient, growth-driven mining ecosystems.

The Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) has issued a scathing statement condemning the deteriorating labour conditions across the country’s diamond sector, as companies reel from falling global prices, unpaid wages, mass retrenchments, and growing unrest among mine workers, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

With Zimbabwe’s rough diamonds reportedly selling for as little as US$30 per carat—a stark contrast to past highs—the entire industry is under pressure. The price collapse has led to sharp revenue losses, triggering a fresh wave of instability in the country’s diamond-producing regions.

In a press statement released on July 9, 2025, ZDAMWU General Secretary Justice Chinhema described the situation as a “triple threat” comprising plummeting productivity, rampant illicit trade, and a devastating labour crisis. He warned that the industry is “on the brink of collapse” if urgent reforms and protections are not implemented.

“Our members, hardworking mine workers in the diamond sector, are suffering amid a wave of layoffs, unpaid wages, and deteriorating labour standards at the country’s three diamond mining companies—ZCDC, Anjin Investments, and Murowa Diamonds,” Chinhema said.

ZCDC Retrenchments: Hundreds Face Job Loss Without Compensation

At Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC), the union revealed that up to 600 workers are being laid off, with 295 already retrenched. Shockingly, those retrenched through the so-called “voluntary” process have not received their packages. The company has reportedly initiated compulsory retrenchments, which the union says violates the principles of fair labour practice and social protection.

“We condemn any forced or unfair retrenchment processes that violate workers’ rights and dignity,” ZDAMWU stated, urging ZCDC to halt the downsizing and engage workers in transparent and humane restructuring processes.

Anjin and Murowa: Sit-Ins and Protests Over Unpaid Salaries

At Anjin Investments, workers recently staged a protest demanding four months of unpaid salaries, while Murowa Diamonds workers are currently holding a sit-in over five months of unpaid wages. In both cases, the companies have reportedly failed to communicate adequately with employees or resolve long-standing salary disputes.

“These acts of negligence toward Zimbabwean workers are a gross betrayal of trust. Workers are producing wealth they never get to benefit from,” said a ZDAMWU representative on condition of anonymity.

Diamond Sector in Crisis as Global Prices Tank

The crisis is further compounded by weak global demand for rough diamonds and oversupply in international markets. Zimbabwe’s diamonds are now fetching as low as US$30 per carat—a figure industry observers say is unsustainable and undermines both profitability and viability for mining companies.

This has raised concerns that companies are using low prices as a justification to neglect labour obligations, while failing to introduce value addition, beneficiation, or domestic auctions to stabilise returns.

“We can’t allow the so-called price crash to become an excuse for abuse. These companies must honour their commitments to workers and explore real beneficiation to protect jobs,” said Chinhema.

ZDAMWU Demands Immediate Government Intervention

The union is now calling on the Government of Zimbabwe to intervene decisively. ZDAMWU has outlined the following key demands:

• Immediate payment of all outstanding wages across ZCDC, Anjin, and Murowa

• A halt to the forced retrenchments at ZCDC

• Transparent dialogue and restructuring processes with worker participation

• Long-term reforms to encourage value addition, protect jobs, and end reliance on raw diamond exports