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As the government announces a renewed clampdown on counterfeit goods under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), a Mining Zimbabwe investigation reveals a deadly and deeply entrenched parallel market that is potentially poisoning the nation’s number one employee: the mine worker.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Substandard, fake safety respirators, primarily mimicking the global 3M brand, are being funnelled into the mining sector, compromising worker health on an industrial scale, defrauding the fiscus, and setting up mining companies for historic legal liability reminiscent of the Wenela-era compensation scandals.

This investigation, based on technical audits, supply chain analysis, and insider accounts, uncovers a grim reality where life-saving Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has become a vector of profit and corruption. While the government vows to “double down on counterfeits,” as outlined in its National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), the evidence on the ground suggests that the enforcement mechanisms are catastrophically failing in the very sector where the stakes are human lives.

The Second Republic has rightly identified illicit trade as a critical threat to national development. The NDS2 framework explicitly targets the proliferation of counterfeit products, recognising their damage to industry, revenue, and consumer safety. However, this investigation finds that in the mining sector, the engine of the national economy, this strategy is being neutralised by a sophisticated and brazen syndicate.

Authorised distributors of certified respiratory equipment are being systematically undercut and sidelined by a flood of counterfeits. The investigation shows that authentic, life-saving products are available, but they are not receiving sales. The main reason is the pressure on procurement officers to reduce costs, coupled with either wilful blindness or active complicity. This has created a market where the lowest price is the only determinant, even for equipment that stands between a worker and a fatal lung disease.

The counterfeit respirators, overwhelmingly sourced from the Far East, are a masterclass in deceptive packaging and lethal shortcuts. A detailed forensic comparison reveals:

Filtration Fraud: Genuine N95 masks use proprietary electrostatic filter media to capture fine, lung-destroying silica dust. The fakes use ordinary, non-woven fabric with zero filtering efficacy for fine particulates. Once inhaled, this dust causes irreversible silicosis.

Certification Forgery: The counterfeits bear expertly forged NIOSH, SABS, or EN certification marks, providing a false paper trail that shields mine management from immediate legal scrutiny but offers no protection underground.

Catastrophic Design Flaws: In a critical cost-cutting measure, fakes employ flimsy ear loops instead of the dual-headband system required for a proper seal. This guarantees leakage, rendering the mask useless.

“To the untrained eye in a procurement office, they look similar. To a miner in a dusty shaft, the difference is between breath and suffocation,” explained a certified safety officer.

The economic driver is stark. The price differential between a genuine respirator and a fake creates a slush fund running into tens of thousands of dollars per quarter for large mines. This “saving” is a mirage that transforms into human suffering and future financial catastrophe.

“This isn’t just about bribes or kickbacks, though that is endemic,” an industry insider revealed. “It’s about bonuses tied to cost-cutting and a culture that views PPE as a commodity, not a critical safety system. The miner is given a defective shield, and the company is storing up a liability that will dwarf any phantom savings.”

The National Social Security Authority (NSSA) is the designated regulator for occupational health and safety. Yet its capacity to enforce standards and police this specific, technical market is described by sources as “severely lacking.” The laws are not stringent enough, and penalties are not a deterrent.

This failure has a dual national impact:

1. A Public Health Time Bomb: Zimbabwe is actively creating a cohort of miners destined for debilitating illness, placing a future burden on a healthcare system already under strain.
2. Direct Fiscal Sabotage: The counterfeit supply chain operates through smuggling and invoice-less transactions to avoid Bureau Veritas (BV) inspection and VAT. This not only flouts the NDS2’s principles of formalisation and revenue collection but actively steals from the national purse. “Every fake mask sold is a double theft: it steals a miner’s health, and it steals revenue from the Treasury meant for national development,” a tax compliance expert stated.

The historical parallel is profound. The Wenela system in South Africa left a legacy of chronic illness among migrant miners, leading to decades-long, multi-billion-dollar class-action lawsuits against mining houses. Zimbabwean companies are now replicating the conditions for a similar catastrophe.

Legal analysts warn that the ultimate cost will be borne by shareholders. “When the epidemic of silicosis from this period manifests, the courts will dissect procurement records,” said a commercial lawyer specialising in corporate liability. “If evidence emerges that companies knowingly procured uncertified PPE to cut costs, directors could face charges of criminal negligence. The civil claims for compensation could be existential for mining firms. NDS2 aims for a prosperous, healthy nation; this practice is directly engineering its opposite.”

The government’s commitment under NDS2 to fight counterfeits must now be translated into urgent, sector-specific action:

For the Ministry of Mines & NSSA: Launch an immediate, uncompromising joint blitz, inspecting the procurement logs and warehouse stocks of all major mines. Enforce a mandatory, publicly accessible certification register for all PPE suppliers.

For the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) & BV: Tighten the net at ports of entry, specifically targeting declared PPE. Share data with NSSA to blacklist importers of fake safety goods.

For Mining Company Boards & Shareholders: Demand independent, forensic audits of PPE supply chains. Make ‘Zero Harm’ a procurement metric, not just a slogan. Recognise that ethical sourcing is the only defence against future ruinous litigation.

For Industry Bodies like the Chamber of Mines: Establish a collective, verified approved-supplier list and enforce a blacklist for those caught dealing in fakes. Peer accountability is crucial.

The NDS2 presents a blueprint for a legitimate, thriving economy. The rampant trade in counterfeit respirators is a direct assault on that vision, sacrificing the nation’s most valuable asset, its people, for illicit gain. To double down on counterfeits, as the policy pledges, the authorities must first look down into the mines, where the very breath of workers is being stolen. The time for decisive action is now, before the true cost is measured not only in lost revenue but in a generation of lives lost to breathlessness.

Dallaglio Investments, the mining unit of Padenga Holdings, is counting on a new artisanal mining joint venture, expanded underground operations, and an aggressive drilling campaign to revive production growth after gold output fell 3% in the year to December 2025, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

The group produced 2,564 kilogrammes of gold during the year, down from 2,638 kilogrammes in 2024, after weaker output at Pickstone Peerless Mine offset strong gains at flagship Eureka Mine.

The decline was largely tied to Pickstone’s transition from open-pit mining to a fully underground operation, a shift that temporarily disrupted production as the company repositioned the mine for longer-term growth.

As part of the restructuring, Pickstone, through Dallaglio’s Cordillera subsidiary, entered into a joint venture with an artisanal mining and processing company. Ore mined at the operation will now be sold to the Cordillera joint venture, while the mine itself focuses entirely on underground extraction.

Management expects the arrangement to improve efficiencies and profitability as underground production ramps up.

The transition is already being backed by deeper capital investment. Dallaglio commissioned Phase 3 of Pickstone’s underground project in December, enabling ore mined between Levels 7 and 10 to be hoisted from the 10.5 Level loading station while also opening new drilling access for deeper exploration of the ore body.

The company plans to invest a further US$18 million into the underground operation in 2026 as it targets higher production volumes from the asset.

The underground push has also translated into reserve growth. Planned ore reserves at Pickstone increased from 105,000 ounces to 123,000 ounces during the year following refinement of the ore body, strengthening confidence in the mine’s long-term economics.

At the same time, Dallaglio is accelerating exploration spending across its portfolio, budgeting US$17 million in 2026 to expand mineral resources and improve reserve confidence at both Pickstone and Eureka.

The company said it has strengthened its geological team and plans significantly more drilling this year, targeting previously unmined areas at Pickstone, including deeper sections of the Peerless ore body. Development work for mining below Level 10 is already underway.

While Pickstone underwent restructuring, Eureka delivered one of the strongest performances in the group. Gold production at the mine rose 9% to 1,969 kilogrammes from 1,811 kilogrammes in 2024, supported by higher throughput, improved feed grade, and stronger recovery rates.

Dallaglio also extended Eureka’s mine life to 2039 following a pit redesign based on updated geotechnical data, reinforcing the asset’s position as the group’s production anchor.

Further upside could come from exploration. The company completed its 2025 drilling campaign at Eureka in December, with results expected to be incorporated into the resource model this year, while investigations into underground mining beneath the planned open pit are also underway.

Alongside mine development, Dallaglio is advancing energy and processing projects aimed at improving efficiencies and lowering operating costs.

A 4.9MW solar plant at Pickstone and a 5MW solar project at Eureka are both expected to deliver first power in the first quarter of 2026, while a gravity circuit upgrade at Eureka is scheduled for commissioning in the second quarter and is expected to improve plant recoveries.

After a year shaped largely by restructuring, Dallaglio is entering 2026 with a strategy centred on underground expansion, reserve growth, and operational upgrades as it seeks to restore production momentum.

• Govt Orders 98% Local Management, Mines to Stop Hoarding Top Jobs

In a bold and unapologetic crackdown on foreign dominance in the mining sector, the Zimbabwean government has issued a firm directive that 98 per cent of all senior and middle management positions at mines, including the fast-growing lithium subsector, must be held by Zimbabwean citizens with immediate effect, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Minister of Mines and Mining Development Dr Polite Kambamura delivered the ultimatum, warning that foreign-owned mining companies, particularly Chinese lithium operators notorious for running all-expatriate management structures, must comply or face the consequences.

“To ensure compliance with the Mines and Minerals Act [Chapter 21:05] and the Mining Management and Safety Regulations of 1990 (Statutory Instrument 109 of 1990), senior and middle management staff of gold mines and all other mines must be constituted of 98% Zimbabweans,” said Dr Kambamura. “We expect immediate compliance with this call.”

While the directive applies to all mining operations, the government’s toughest message is aimed squarely at Chinese-owned mines, which have been accused of sidelining Zimbabwean professionals and filling every key decision-making role, from Mine Managers, chief engineers, safety officers, and financial controllers, with Chinese nationals.

Industry observers say some Chinese mines operate with almost no Zimbabweans in senior positions, reducing local staff to manual labourers and low-level supervisors. This practice, the government argues, violates both the spirit and the letter of Zimbabwe’s mining laws.

“The days of seeing a foreigner as a general manager, another foreigner as the chief safety officer, another as the HR director, and Zimbabweans only carrying picks and shovels are over,” a senior ministry official told our newsroom on condition of anonymity. “Lithium is ours. The jobs must go to our people.”

Immediate Compliance Required

Mining houses have been given no grace period. The minister said all mines must restructure their management teams with immediate effect. Companies found in breach risk fines, suspension of operating licences, or even revocation of mining claims.

The directive is backed by the Mines and Minerals Act and the 1990 Safety Regulations, which give the state sweeping powers to regulate mine management composition.

The government also confirmed that foreign-owned gold mining assets held idle for speculation will be repossessed, and all small-scale foreign mining operators must transition to large-scale status by 1 January 2027—or exit the sector altogether.

Speaking at a separate miners’ graduation event in Chegutu, Dr Kambamura did not mince his words. He accused some foreign investors of treating Zimbabwe as a “resource colony” where locals are denied decision-making power.

“You cannot come and mine our lithium, our gold, our diamonds, and then bring your own drivers, your own secretaries, your own mine captains, and your own accountants from your country,” he said. “That is not investment. That is exploitation. Our people are qualified. Our people are competent. And now, the law will protect them.”

The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) has applauded the move, saying it will end the systemic exclusion of Zimbabwean professionals from their own country’s mining sector.

What This Means for Foreign Investors

The government has made it clear that it remains open to responsible foreign direct investment—but on new terms. Foreign capital and technology are welcome, but management must be local. Expatriates may only occupy a maximum of 2 per cent of senior and middle management roles, and only where proven local skills gaps exist.

For Chinese lithium giants like Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, Sinomine, and others operating in Kamativi, Bikita, and Goromonzi, the directive forces an immediate overhaul of their staffing policies.

“Compliance is not optional,” the minister stressed. “We will be going on the ground to check. No foreigner will run a mine in this country while Zimbabweans watch from the gate.”

• US$7 billion mining earnings in 2025, 5% growth forecast for 2026, and a clear directive: small-scale gold is for Zimbabweans

President Emmerson Mnangagwa today made a powerful pledge to support local miners, declaring that the government’s mining sector reforms, particularly in small-scale gold mining, are designed to ensure more Zimbabweans participate in and benefit from their own resources, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Speaking with the authority of a leader whose economic policies are now backed by the IMF, World Bank, and UN Economic Commission for Africa, the President said the country’s macroeconomic stability is no accident.

“It is a result of our collective discipline, resilience, focus, and unity of purpose,” he said.

And then he turned to mining, the engine of that stability.

US$7 Billion and a Promise to Locals

Revealing that mining earnings reached US$7 billion in 2025, Mnangagwa described the sector as “the backbone of our economy.” But he did not stop at celebrating the figure. He looked ahead.

“Reforms in the mining sector, particularly with regard to the small-scale mining of gold, will see the participation of more locals in the sector,” the President said.

That single sentence is a promise. It is a directive. And it puts the full weight of the presidency behind the recent policy changes that have raised questions and hopes across the industry.

For years, small-scale gold mining has been dominated by informal players, with foreign syndicates, many of them illegal, pushing locals off claims, bribing officials, and smuggling gold across borders. President Mnangagwa has now made it clear: those days are ending.

Support for local miners is not just a slogan. It is government policy.

The Bigger Economic Picture: Irreversible Growth

The President’s pledge to local miners sits within a broader story of national economic resurgence.

· The economy rebounded by 6.6% in 2025.
· Growth is forecast at 5% in 2026.
· International financial institutions have confirmed the trend.

“Our economy remains on an irreversible growth trajectory,” Mnangagwa declared.

Energy, transport, water, and ICT infrastructure are expanding at a steady pace. Agriculture is growing and innovating. And mining is leading the charge, with the government now focusing on local beneficiation and value addition—keeping more value within Zimbabwe.

What the President’s Promise Means for Small-Scale Miners

For the thousands of artisanal and small-scale miners across the country, the President’s words are a lifeline.

The Zimbabwe Miners Federation, led by Henrietta Rushwaya, has long argued that small-scale mining should be reserved for citizens. At Mine Entra 2024, she said: “If an investor’s claim is less than 50 hectares, they cannot call themselves an investor. They must pack their bags and go.”

Now the President has endorsed that vision.

The recent ban on foreigners in the small-scale gold sector—implemented by Mines Minister Dr Polite Kambamura—is no longer just a ministerial directive. It is a presidential promise to local miners.

But support does not mean abandonment. The President’s administration has also committed to responsive policies that balance empowerment with the need for capital and expertise. Foreign investment remains welcome—but in larger-scale operations, joint ventures, and value addition, not in displacing locals from small claims.

“My Administration will continue to implement responsive policies for broad-based empowerment and wealth creation,” he said.

For local miners, that means one thing: the government has your back.

The gold is ours. The reforms are real. And with US$7 billion already in the bank, the future of Zimbabwean mining is being built on a foundation of local participation, discipline, and unity of purpose.

The Zimbabwean government has declared a national state of disaster across every major river system in the country, unlocking emergency powers that allow private contractors to remove silt, restore damaged riverbeds, and keep any gold or minerals they find along the way, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

The declaration, formalised as Statutory Instrument 91 of 2026 (Civil Protection Notice), comes after years of uncontrolled alluvial gold mining left rivers like the Mazowe, Save, Sanyati, Umzingwane and Mutare heavily degraded. The government says the situation has become so bad that normal laws are no longer enough.

“Rivers are easily damaged but slow to recover naturally,” the new law states. The disaster status covers the whole of Zimbabwe and took effect immediately upon publication.

What changes under the disaster declaration?

The new rules do two big things.

First, they create a powerful Inter-Ministerial Committee, led by the Environment and Water Resources ministers, to oversee all river rehabilitation. This committee will call for bids, approve contractors, and monitor the work. Each province will also have its own committee to enforce compliance on the ground.

Second, the declaration makes a major exception to the existing total ban on alluvial mining (S.I. 188 of 2024). Companies that are genuinely rehabilitating rivers, and have written permission from the committee, can remove silt, stabilise banks, and restore river channels. If they find gold or other minerals while doing that work, they are allowed to keep and sell those minerals after paying royalties to the State.

No mining for mining’s sake

The law is careful to draw a line. Section 8(2) states clearly that nothing in these rules allows anyone to conduct alluvial mining simply to extract minerals. The primary purpose must be rehabilitation. Contractors must follow a site-specific rehabilitation plan approved by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), and they can only recover minerals that were already deposited or exposed by earlier mining activities.

If a contractor strikes gold, they must report it to the Ministry of Mines within seven days. They then need a Mineral Recovery Permit from the Provincial Mining Director. Monthly returns must be submitted, and the contractor must pay royalties at the normal rate.

Who can become a contractor?

The government will issue a public call for Expressions of Interest. Companies that apply must prove they have:

• No past environmental violations (especially related to alluvial mining)
• Technical expertise in hydrology, ecology and civil engineering
• Their own equipment or legal access to it
• Financial capacity to fund the work

Interestingly, the law does not ban polluters. It defines an “approved contractor” to include a “polluter company or successor to, or clone of, a polluter company” that damaged rivers since 2012. However, such companies must still meet all technical and legal requirements.

Strict rules on the ground

The new rules are not a free-for-all. The Third Schedule of the law sets out tough operating procedures:

• No rehabilitation work from November to April (the rainy season) or when rivers are in full flood.
• No processing plants, slimes dams, or settling ponds within 500 metres of a riverbank or the highest flood level.
• No process water may be discharged back into the river.
• Silt removal cannot go as deep as the original riverbed and must not damage riverbanks.
• All waste must go to a licensed landfill — on-site burial is banned.
• A pre- and post-rehabilitation joint inspection must be conducted by the Provincial Mining Director, ZINWA and EMA.
• Only after EMA issues a written compliance certificate, and the Ministry of Mines issues a quittance certificate, is the contractor cleared of environmental liability.

Enforcement and penalties

EMA is given strong powers. The Agency can prohibit a contractor from working if they fail to follow the rehabilitation plan or pose a threat to the environment. Contractors can appeal to the Inter-Ministerial Committee, but that committee’s decision is final.

If a contractor abandons the work or performs it poorly, EMA can carry out the remedial work itself and then sue the contractor for the full cost. Any direction from EMA is treated as a legal order under the Civil Protection Act.

Why this matters

Zimbabwe’s rivers have been hammered by gold panning and mechanised alluvial mining for more than a decade. The government says the damage now requires a wartime-style response. By allowing contractors to profit from recovered minerals, the State hopes to attract private capital to carry out the cleanup without spending public money upfront.

But the scheme is not without controversy. Critics worry that the exemption to the alluvial mining ban could be abused, with contractors claiming rehabilitation while mainly digging for gold. The government’s answer is the strict monitoring regime, including upstream and downstream water quality testing for suspended solids, pH, and heavy metals.

The disaster declaration remains in force indefinitely, and rehabilitation contracts can only be renewed upon proof of performance. For mining companies with environmental baggage and deep pockets, this is a rare chance to turn a liability into revenue. For Zimbabwe’s damaged rivers, it may be the last chance they get.

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