Mining ZimbabweLatest Mining News, Policy and Industry Updates

Zimbabwe’s largest platinum producer, Zimplats, reported a decline in production for the year ended 30 June 2025, with 6E production in matte falling by 6% to 606,300 ounces, down from 645,900 ounces in FY2024, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

According to Zimplats’ parent company Implats’ annual production update, the drop was driven primarily by poor fleet performance, which constrained mining operations during the year. This was compounded by the lock-up of concentrates as Zimplats commissioned its expanded smelter complex. While the short-term production loss is notable, the commissioning of the smelter represents a significant long-term investment in beneficiation and value addition in Zimbabwe.

Zimplats operates a large-scale underground mining complex, producing more than seven million tonnes of ore annually. The efficiency of its fleet, from load-haul-dump units to drill rigs and underground trucks, is critical in maintaining ore flow to concentrators. In FY2025, underperformance of this fleet reduced mining flexibility, constraining ore delivery and lowering refined output.

Fleet challenges are not new to Zimbabwe’s underground mines, where equipment replacement cycles are often extended due to capital constraints and long lead times for imports. For Zimplats, these issues appear to have compounded at a time when the operation was simultaneously rolling out one of its largest capital projects in decades.

The lock-up of concentrates during the smelter commissioning phase further weighed on reported output. Essentially, material that would normally have been converted into matte ounces was tied up in the processing pipeline as new capacity was brought online. This is a temporary effect, but it had a measurable impact on FY2025 numbers.

Once fully operational, the expanded smelter complex will position Zimplats as a stronger beneficiation player. Zimbabwe has long pursued policies encouraging in-country processing of PGMs, and Zimplats’ investment aligns with government objectives of maximising value retention from mineral exports. The smelter expansion is expected to reduce reliance on toll treatment in South Africa and improve operational efficiencies over time.

Zimplats’ performance has a direct bearing on Zimbabwe’s economy. As the country’s single largest PGM producer, Zimplats contributes over 50% of total national output. A 6% decline in production, therefore, translates into a material reduction in foreign exchange inflows. Using prevailing market prices, the shortfall equates to more than US$50 million in lost export revenues in FY2025.

However, the commissioning of the new smelter underlines Zimplats’ continued commitment to long-term investment in Zimbabwe, despite the short-term disruption. The project not only increases beneficiation capacity but also creates downstream jobs, expands the local contractor base, and enhances the company’s ability to withstand future logistical bottlenecks.

Looking ahead, Zimplats’ performance will depend on resolving fleet challenges and ensuring smooth ramp-up of the smelter. The mine’s multi-billion-dollar investment pipeline, including concentrator expansions and mine redevelopment projects, indicates that Implats remains confident in Zimbabwe as a PGM jurisdiction.

For policymakers, Zimplats’ FY2025 update is a reminder of the dual challenges facing Zimbabwe’s mining industry: operational bottlenecks that can dent short-term output, and the broader imperative of creating an enabling environment for long-term investment.

Despite a 6% decline, Zimplats remains the bedrock of Zimbabwe’s platinum industry and a crucial player in the country’s journey toward achieving its 2030 vision.

China has signalled a tentative easing in rare earth supply tensions, pledging to address India’s critical needs even as it quietly lifted restrictions and sharply increased overall rare earth exports, the sector restarting a delicate balancing act between diplomacy and dominance, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Amid faltering supply chains, Indian officials have confirmed that China has agreed to address India’s rare earth requirements, alongside commitments on fertilisers and tunnel boring machines, as the two countries seek to thaw trade relations mired in regional tensions. Although India is blessed with the third-largest rare earth reserves globally, estimated at 6.9 million tonnes, it lacks indigenous magnet production capabilities and remains heavily reliant on Chinese supply.

Simultaneously, customs data shows that China’s rare earth exports rose 69% in July to 6,422 tonnes, marking the highest levels recorded since January. This rebound comes after China imposed export curbs in April and May in response to U.S. tariff measures, sending shockwaves through global automakers and high-tech industries.

For India, China’s pledge represents a short-term lifeline but not a solution. While diplomatic assurances are welcome, India’s domestic capability remains small, producing even less rare earth than its smaller rivals. The recent export recovery may restore supplies, but deeper resilience requires industrial self-sufficiency.

India has already responded with its own measures. A National Critical Mineral Mission worth ₹343 billion (approximately US$4–5 billion) is underway to boost rare earth mining and processing. The government has also allocated ₹1,345 crore (approximately US$160 million) to establish domestic rare earth magnet production, with mainstay firms like Mahindra & Mahindra and Uno Minda involved.

This push for homegrown capacity comes amid growing concerns that China could weaponise its dominance of rare earth processing, where it controls over 90%, as a strategic tool. India must move quickly to shift from diplomacy to deliverables. Through exploration, strategic partnerships including with Australia, Argentina, and the U.S., and battery-to-magnet manufacturing initiatives, India seeks to turn its latent potential into tangible security.

China’s dual strategy, diplomatic assurances to India and export relief, reflects its cautious repositioning amid diplomatic overtures to New Delhi. It also sends a message to global consumers: Beijing still holds the rare earth lever, and supply flows remain under its control.

For India, this is neither a reprieve nor a victory. It is a clear reminder that supply security requires self-reliance. Investments in domestic capability, partnerships with trustworthy international suppliers, and policy reforms across mining, refining, and manufacturing will determine how effectively India can shield itself from future jolts.

• Is 100 Tonnes Within Reach?

Zimbabwe’s gold industry is on a historic run. In June 2025, the sector earned US$393.87 million from exports of 4.27 tonnes, the highest monthly output on record. By mid-year, cumulative deliveries had already reached 20.1 tonnes, well ahead of the 13.87 tonnes achieved in the same period of 2024. With momentum this strong, analysts believe Zimbabwe is on track to surpass its official 40-tonne annual target, with some projections suggesting the final figure could reach 50 tonnes.

By Ryan Chigoche

Behind these impressive numbers, the government and industry have set their sights higher.

Over the past year, officials have floated the idea of scaling Zimbabwe’s gold output to 100 tonnes annually.

Mines Minister Winston Chitando confirmed that a framework was being drafted to lift annual deliveries beyond 100 tonnes and boost gold export earnings to over US$4 billion.

The immediate past president of the Chamber of Mines, Thomas Gono, has described the target as achievable, provided miners gain access to affordable electricity and more than US$1 billion in new investment for exploration, mechanisation, and plant upgrades.

Producers themselves have cautiously endorsed the vision, saying the goal is realistic under the right policy environment.

June’s record output underscores the potential, but it also raises critical questions about whether Zimbabwe can sustain such growth and what needs to change to reach the next level.

The surge in output has been driven largely by artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM). In June, ASM delivered 3.31 tonnes, an all-time record accounting for nearly 80% of total production.

In the first half of 2025, ASM deliveries reached 14.5 tonnes, almost double the 7.7 tonnes recorded in the same period last year.

Their performance reflects deliberate policy incentives, including full USD payments, competitive buying prices, and the mine-to-market tracking system introduced in late 2024 to curb leakages from side-marketing.

Large-scale producers, on the other hand, continue to face challenges. Their output rose slightly to 0.953 tonnes in June, but high labour costs, unreliable electricity, and the 30% export surrender requirement continue to weigh heavily on operations. Platinum producers have already resisted surrender obligations this year, highlighting the tension between policy and sector efficiency.

Structural Bottlenecks

While current figures are encouraging, scaling from 40–50 tonnes to 100 tonnes annually will require significant reforms.

Beyond the estimated US$1 billion needed for exploration, mechanisation, and beneficiation, Zimbabwe loses an estimated US$1.5 billion annually to gold smuggling, limiting the benefits of official deliveries. Infrastructure gaps, particularly in power supply, remain a critical constraint.

Regionally, Zimbabwe’s ambitions stand against Africa’s top producers.

Ghana, the continent’s leading gold producer, is projected to deliver 158 tonnes in 2025, while Mali and Burkina Faso will each produce around 100 tonnes.

South Africa, despite ageing mines, maintains output near 100 tonnes annually. These benchmarks show that Zimbabwe’s 100-tonne aspiration is not unrealistic, but achieving it will require scaling up large-scale investments while continuing to formalise ASM operations.

Global Tailwinds, Local Choices

Global gold prices are also supporting Zimbabwe’s prospects. Prices averaged above US$3,400 per ounce in the first half of 2025, peaking at US$3,500 in April, with projections of US$3,700 by year-end.

This has helped lift Zimbabwe’s earnings to US$1.84 billion in the first half of the year, a 25.7% increase from 2024.

These favourable market conditions present a unique opportunity. But without reforms to reduce surrender requirements, invest in exploration and infrastructure, and curb smuggling, the country risks plateauing before reaching the 100-tonne mark.

Looking ahead, the government’s ambition to transform Zimbabwe into a 100-tonne producer is bold, and June’s record output demonstrates the sector’s potential. However, achieving this milestone will require more than strong global prices.

It demands policy consistency, significant capital inflows, and a careful balance between supporting ASM and revitalising large-scale mining operations.

For now, Zimbabwe’s gold sector is riding a wave of historic performance. Whether this momentum can be converted into long-term structural growth and eventually the 100-tonne target depends on the decisions made today.

Shamva Gold Mine and Mazowe Mine share a common history. Both once operated under Mzi Khumalo’s Metallon Gold. Both collapsed under the same circumstances, and both were taken over by desperate artisanal miners when formal operations ceased. At Shamva, deaths became routine, and chaos reigned until Kuvimba Mining House stepped in.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Today, Shamva is a model of modern mining, boasting more than 1.5 million fatality-free shifts and proving that Zimbabwean mines can achieve world-class safety and productivity.

Mazowe, however, remains stuck in that past, a graveyard of collapsed shafts, fatalities, and lawlessness. The contrast could not be clearer: where formal ownership was restored, life and order returned. Where the state has delayed, death continues. The lesson is obvious: if Shamva could be transformed under Kuvimba, then Mazowe, under its rightful owner Namib Minerals, can also thrive.

Shamva: From Makorokoza to Modern Mining

When Metallon Gold faltered, Shamva was left in ruins. Artisanal miners flooded the shafts, accidents multiplied, and the mine became a symbol of Zimbabwe’s wider mining decay.

But the takeover by Kuvimba in 2020 turned the tide. Investment was injected, systems restored, and safety made a non-negotiable priority. Fast forward to 2025, Under the leadership of Engineer Gift Mapakame, Shamva has now reached 1,523,000 fatality-free shifts, a feat once thought impossible in the mining environment.

“Reaching this milestone is not about luck or coincidence. It is the result of consistent effort, strict adherence to safety standards, and the belief that every worker must return home safely,” Mapakame said.

Shamva’s turnaround demonstrates that artisanal mining chaos is not inevitable. With proper ownership, capital, and leadership, even a mine written off as dead can become a beacon of safety and sustainability.

Mazowe: A giant in Waiting

Mazowe’s trajectory followed Shamva’s in its decline, but unlike Shamva, it has not yet had its revival. Today, allegedly, over 10,000 artisanal miners swarm Mazowe’s shafts. Deaths are no longer news; they are expected. Collapses, explosions, and suffocations claim lives regularly. Families bury breadwinners with no compensation, no justice, and no recognition.

A Ministry of Mines stop order issued in 2024 has been ignored, while police cite “lack of authorisation” to act. Lawlessness has been allowed to harden into normality.

Meanwhile, Namib Minerals, the legitimate owner of Mazowe Mine, has pledged a US$300 million investment to restore underground operations, create jobs, and increase gold output. Yet, like Metallon before, Namib is blocked not by market forces but by the absence of enforcement.

Two Stories, One Lesson

Shamva and Mazowe are twin stories diverging at one decision: government allowed Shamva to be formally taken over and properly operated by Kuvimba, while Mazowe is yet to formally begin operations.

The proof is before us: when formal operators are empowered, Zimbabwe’s mines thrive. When lawlessness is allowed to prevail, they bleed.

The Way Forward

We cannot claim ignorance. The success at Shamva is living evidence that the revival of Mazowe is possible and urgent. To achieve this, the Ministry of Mines and the Zimbabwe Republic Police must:

• Enforce the stop order and evict illegal operators from Mazowe immediately.
• Secure the mine’s infrastructure to allow Namib Minerals access to its property.
• Back Namib’s US$300 million investment programme with clear political will.
• Provide regulated artisanal mining zones elsewhere, ensuring safety and accountability.

The Last Day Is Now

Shamva was once as chaotic and deadly as Mazowe is today. But Kuvimba’s takeover proved that with formal operations, investment, and leadership, a mine can rise from being a death trap to a gold standard.

The question is not whether Mazowe can be saved. Shamva is a crystal clear example of that. The only question is whether there is a will to allow it to happen.

The latest day to make Mazowe safe was yesterday. The last day to make it right is now.

Dinson Iron and Steel Company (DISCO), a unit of China’s Tsingshan Holdings, is set to pump US$800 million into its steel plant in Zimbabwe, doubling output capacity from 600,000 to 1.2 million tonnes annually, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

Information Minister Jenfan Muswere confirmed the development during a recent ministerial tour, describing it as a “game-changer” for Zimbabwe’s industrialisation drive.

Phase One Success
The US$1 billion plant has already begun producing pig iron and carbon steel, supported by a 50MW thermal power station that recycles furnace gas. Plans for a solar plant are underway to further secure power supply.

Expansion Plans
The new investment will add a second blast furnace, rolling mills, and advanced processing facilities, moving DISCO into the ranks of Africa’s top steel producers.

Why It Matters

• Cuts Zimbabwe’s US$1bn annual steel import bill

• Creates jobs and skills in steel engineering

• Anchors industrial growth and regional exports

• Positions Zimbabwe to target EU markets if ESG compliance is met

Tsingshan’s long-term roadmap could see production jump to 3.2–5 million tonnes per year, placing Zimbabwe firmly on the global steel map.

• Local Jobs First: Mines should employ at least 90% Zimbabweans, with expatriates limited to specialised roles.
• Skills Transfer: Foreign workers must train Zimbabweans for all technical and managerial positions.
• Accountability Matters: Employment records and agreements must be public to ensure foreign investors benefit the country, not just themselves.

Zimbabwe is rich in minerals – platinum, gold, lithium, chrome, nickel, and rare earths — positioning the country as a key player in the global green energy transition. But the real question is: who benefits from this wealth, Zimbabweans or foreign investors?

Recent reports show troubling trends in Chinese-owned mines. In some operations, over 45 per cent of employees are Chinese, while Zimbabweans are relegated to low-skilled, short-term contract roles. Salaries paid to foreign workers are often repatriated, offering little local economic benefit.

By contrast, other foreign-owned firms like Implats, Valterra Platinum, and Bravura employ over 97 per cent Zimbabweans. Their model demonstrates how foreign investment should work: bringing capital, technology, and skills while creating jobs and embedding value locally.

Legal and Moral Responsibility

Under Zimbabwe’s Mines and Minerals Act, mineral rights belong to the State on behalf of the people. Mining titles are not a licence to exploit; they are a custodial responsibility. Companies must demonstrate clear employment localisation and skills transfer plans, ensuring Zimbabweans fill skilled and managerial positions.

Yet, in many Chinese-run mines, Zimbabweans are confined to casual labour roles. Contracts are short-term, often just one year, creating job insecurity and stripping workers of dignity. This model is exploitation, not investment.

Skilled Workers Are Available

Zimbabwe produces thousands of graduates yearly in mining engineering, geology, metallurgy, and related fields. The challenge is not skill but opportunity. Jobs that could be done locally are filled by imported labour, while local wages circulate abroad instead of boosting the domestic economy.

What Needs to Change

1. Mandatory Localisation: At least 90 per cent of employees should be Zimbabwean, except for highly specialised roles.

2. Skills Transfer Programmes: Foreign nationals must train Zimbabwean understudies for every position they hold.

3. Permanent Employment: Short-term contracts should be limited; permanent employment should be standard.

4. Community Development: Companies must invest meaningfully in local communities.

5. Transparency: Employment records and agreements should be public to ensure accountability.

The Bottom Line

Zimbabwe’s minerals are a birthright. Foreign investors must operate on terms that benefit Zimbabweans, not exploit them. Chinese mines employing large numbers of their nationals while offering insecure jobs to locals are draining the economy, undermining sovereignty, and betraying the social contract of resource ownership.

The government must enforce laws and demand accountability. If Zimbabwe acts, mining can become a true engine of national development — welcoming foreign capital only when it respects Zimbabwean labour, law, and sovereignty.