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Zimbabwe’s lithium industry, still in its infancy, is poised for exponential growth, with projections indicating the sector will generate a staggering US$3.2 billion in annual turnover by 2030, driven by aggressive beneficiation investments and the country’s strategic position as Africa’s leading lithium producer, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Presenting at the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe Annual Conference in Victoria Falls, Lithium Producers Association chairman and Mutapa Energy Resources CEO Innocent Rukweza painted a picture of an industry that has weathered severe price volatility but remains resolute in its commitment to the “lithium story.”

“Up to 2030, according to our projections, the lithium industry will be registering a big turnover, based on lithium sulphate, in compliance with the beneficiation policy in NDS2 — US$3.2 billion. That will be our peak production or take-off in dollar value,” Rukweza told delegates.

The industry forecasts annual lithium sulphate production of 344,000 tonnes by 2030, marking a dramatic transformation from a sector that only emerged in 2022 following a surge in global lithium prices.

The lithium sector’s journey has been nothing short of tumultuous. Prices skyrocketed to a peak of US$86,000 per tonne in 2022, triggering a “huge influx of people coming in” and the consummation of most of the projects being discussed today. However, the industry experienced a precipitous decline that Rukweza described as “a decline that we’ve never seen before.”

“We reached our lowest points,” he recounted. “We got to a point where we had to retrench. There were project delays. We had to lay off people. We had a low price of US$14,300, down from US$86,000.”

Today, prices have stabilised at an average of US$22,000 to US$25,000 per tonne — “still a far cry from where we used to be” but indicative of a sector finding its footing.

US$3.4 billion already committed

Despite the price collapse, investment has remained robust. The industry has already deployed US$2 billion into completed projects, with an additional US$1.45 billion in projects coming online, earmarked exclusively for beneficiation in compliance with government policy.

“Together, we are talking about US$3.4 billion that has been on the table. What has been achieved is US$2 billion. And what is coming is US$1.45 billion,” Rukweza stated.

He emphasised that these figures exclude brownfield and greenfield exploration, suggesting the total investment could easily reach US$4 billion to US$5 billion. The new investments will focus on lithium sulphate plants, concentrator plants, and the recovery of trace metals from tailings.

Zimbabwe leads Africa’s lithium charge

Zimbabwe already stands as Africa’s undisputed lithium powerhouse. According to the African Energy Chamber’s State of African Energy 2026 report, the country produced well over 100,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) in 2024. By 2030, output is forecast to reach approximately 160,000 tonnes LCE, far ahead of Mali, the second-largest African producer, which is expected to reach close to 95,000 tonnes.

“Zimbabwe stands out as the clear front-runner among African lithium producers by 2030 as global demand for lithium accelerates, driven by electric vehicles and battery storage as the world transitions to clean energy,” the report noted.

The country’s lithium exports reached 1.13 million tonnes of spodumene concentrate in 2025, accounting for about 15 percent of China’s lithium concentrate imports. Mineral export earnings from lithium reached US$571.6 million in 2025, outperforming volume and revenue targets.

Beneficiation: The path to value

Under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) covering 2026 to 2030, the Government is prioritising the beneficiation of lithium concentrates into lithium salts. Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has stated that the Government will phase out the export of lithium concentrates by January 2027 and support the production and export of lithium salts.

“NDS2 will prioritise the transition from the production of lithium sulphate to lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide production, which are critical inputs in battery manufacturing,” the strategy document states.

Already, Chinese firms have invested about US$2 billion since 2021 in Zimbabwe’s lithium mining sector, consolidating their grip on the global battery metal supply chain. Major players include Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, which has completed its lithium sulphate plant, Sinomine’s Bikita Minerals, and Sichuan Yahua’s Kamativi lithium mines.

The lithium sector’s growth trajectory aligns with Zimbabwe’s broader Vision 2030 of attaining an upper-middle-income economy. The mining sector contributed US$5.6 billion to Zimbabwe’s GDP in 2022 and is expected to contribute US$20 billion by 2030.

Rukweza, who was recently appointed chairman of the Lithium Association of Zimbabwe, emphasised that the industry remains “committed to the story of lithium” and determined “to make it better than what it is as a collective.”

“This is an infant that is going to mature at one point,” he concluded, projecting a future where Zimbabwe’s lithium industry stands as a cornerstone of the national economy.

Lithium producers in Zimbabwe have made a passionate appeal to Government to extend the January 2027 deadline for the ban on lithium concentrate exports, warning that only one of the seven major players is currently ready to comply with the beneficiation requirement, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Addressing the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe Annual Conference in Victoria Falls, Lithium Producers Association chairman Innocent Rukweza presented a united front from the industry, requesting “just a little bit of leeway” as producers race to complete lithium sulphate plants.

“It is a strong appeal that we are presenting to our regulators, the Permanent Secretary, the Reserve Bank, and everyone, the Minister of Mines, that we would kindly ask and request that we finalise the work that is going on and extend the beneficiation ban maybe to June next year or March, thereabout,” Rukweza pleaded.

The association’s analysis of the seven lithium players reveals a sobering reality: only one producer — China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt — has completed its lithium sulphate plant and is already exporting.

Sinomine’s Bikita Minerals and Sichuan Yahua’s Kamativi lithium mines are in the process of building lithium sulphate plants, while the state-owned Sandawana Mine is conducting a processing feasibility study.

“All of us except one, we are not yet ready, or we are in the final stages of finalising the various lithium sulphate plants,” Rukweza explained.

The producers are not seeking to abandon beneficiation but rather requesting a pragmatic extension to ensure their multi-million-dollar investments can be completed without disruption.

“We remain, as an industry, committed to the story of lithium,” Rukweza emphasised, noting that the industry has already committed US$1.45 billion in projects “earmarked for nothing else but for beneficiation in compliance with government policy”.

The Government has been clear in its policy direction. In June 2025, Cabinet announced that Zimbabwe would prohibit the export of lithium concentrates starting in January 2027, as part of efforts to compel mining companies to establish processing and refining facilities within the country.

The policy aligns with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 2, which prioritises the beneficiation of lithium concentrates into battery-grade lithium.

The industry has already experienced significant policy shocks. In February 2026, the Government accelerated its original timeline, imposing an immediate ban on raw lithium concentrates. Mines Minister Dr Polite Kambamura cited “unprecedented and unacceptable extraction of raw lithium ore as well as massive exports and stockpiling ahead of the 2027 deadline”.

“Disturbing reports further indicate that substantial quantities of our lithium have been illicitly stockpiled in a neighbouring country, depriving our nation of its rightful revenue and future industrial potential,” Kambamura said.

The Government subsequently introduced lithium concentrate quotas and imposed a 16 per cent tax on lithium concentrate exports.

Tax burden and operating costs

Producers are also grappling with what they describe as taxes that are “slightly on the high side” levied on the lithium industry. Rukweza presented a detailed analysis comparing royalty rates, export taxes, and levies across different minerals, appealing for reconsideration.

“We have compared the royalty that we are paying vis-à-vis the other sectors,” he noted.

The association has outlined an engagement timeframe to meet various stakeholders, including the Minister of Mines, the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe, the Minister of Finance, and the Reserve Bank.

“We would want to meet the Minister of Mines, the MMCZ, the Minister of Commerce, Finance and all that we have indicated there. This is our timeline. These are the areas where we think that, as an association, we would want to go through that process because we are still new even within the chamber,” Rukweza said.

The lithium sector finds itself at a critical juncture. Chinese firms have invested about US$2 billion since 2021 and dominate Zimbabwe’s lithium mining sector. The country exported 1.13 million tonnes of lithium-bearing spodumene concentrate in 2025.

Rukweza, recently appointed chairman of the Lithium Association of Zimbabwe, emphasised that the industry remains committed to beneficiation but requires a realistic timeline.

“We are sincerely also appealing that since we are very much at the beginning of the lithium cycle,” he said, urging regulators to consider the industry’s unique position as “a new kid on the block”.

The association has penned an engagement timeframe to address the issues raised and “to gain an insight and to be educated as well — it’s a two-way process”.

As the January 2027 deadline approaches, the question remains whether Government will grant the requested extension or hold firm on its beneficiation timeline, potentially forcing producers to curtail operations until their processing facilities are complete.

FutureCoal expanded its Africa chapter, betting that governments rattled by supply-chain disruptions will embrace the fuel as a pillar of energy security even as decarbonisation pressures persist, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Executive Chairman Mike Teke announced the move at the Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines Annual Mining Conference on Thursday, arguing that the recent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz should not obscure deeper vulnerabilities in global energy markets.

“The lesson for governments is not about a single shipping route; it is about ensuring countries have access to reliable domestic energy resources, resilient supply chains, and secure industrial capacity,” Teke said. “Energy security and affordability must come first.”

The chapter, initially launched in February 2025 with backing from producers in South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, now aims to represent coal-bearing nations across the continent. Its mandate covers coordinated lobbying on technology deployment, investment flows, and industrial policy.

Africa holds some of the world’s largest untapped coal reserves, yet has struggled to attract capital amid shifting environmental standards and policy fragmentation.

“Africa cannot afford fragmented voices anymore,” Teke said. “Investment, policy, supply chains, and technology are increasingly global.”

The push comes as major economies reinforce coal’s strategic role. India is advancing a $4 billion coal-gasification programme targeting 100 million tonnes annually by 2030, while disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this year drove several markets back to coal-fired generation.

In Zimbabwe, the expansion of Hwange Power Station’s Units 7 and 8 using high-efficiency, low-emission technology—alongside the rehabilitation of older units—illustrates the regional pivot toward cleaner coal applications. Zimbabwe is also exploring coal gasification and Coal-to-X pathways.

FutureCoal’s Sustainable Coal Stewardship framework underpins the expanded chapter, offering a roadmap for emissions reduction and responsible production without abandoning the resource.

“The issue is not whether coal exists, but how it is produced, used, and its negative impacts mitigated,” Teke said.

The organisation is now calling on African governments, industry players, and investors to join the chapter as the continent seeks to position itself as a stable supplier in an increasingly contested energy landscape.

…calls for greater exploration investment, saying vast underutilised mineral ground holds the key to future gold output growth.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Dr Thomas Utete Wushe, has challenged Zimbabwe’s gold producers to intensify efforts to unlock an estimated six million hectares of prospective ground, saying the country’s geological potential provides a pathway for sustained growth in gold production, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

Addressing delegates at the Gold Symposium during the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe Annual Conference in Victoria Falls, Dr Wushe urged producers to look beyond current output levels and focus on expanding the country’s resource base through exploration and mine development.

“We challenged the gold producers just in the other room this morning. We said 50 tonnes, is it the best we can do? Considering that we have six million hectares of land that might be frozen for one reason or another, we need to make sure that we convert that six million hectares of possible positive geology into gold,” he said.

Dr Wushe said unlocking the dormant ground could significantly increase Zimbabwe’s production potential and strengthen the country’s position among Africa’s leading gold-producing nations.

“That can actually transform 100 times easily. And so we should go for that. We should aim for gold. We should aim to be the best.”

The call comes as Zimbabwe seeks to build on record gold production of 46.7 tonnes achieved in 2025 and maintain its standing among the continent’s major bullion producers.

While acknowledging the country’s strong performance, Dr Wushe said continued growth would depend on expanding exploration activities to identify new resources and develop the next generation of mines.

“We lost from, we were number two, slid slowly to three, four. I think if we don’t do anything about it, we might actually find ourselves number five, six.”

To accelerate that process, Dr Wushe announced that Zimbabwe will host its inaugural Exploration Indaba in Bulawayo on July 29, bringing together government, industry and academia to discuss strategies for unlocking investment and advancing mineral exploration.

“I can promise you that on the 29th of July in Bulawayo, there will be our inaugural indaba to dissect and shape the future of exploration in Zimbabwe. The government will be there in full force to support the chamber.”

The planned indaba comes as government places greater emphasis on exploration as a critical component of long-term mining growth, with new discoveries expected to replenish resources and support future production.

Dr Wushe noted that exploration and mine development are inherently long-term processes, but said they remain essential if Zimbabwe is to unlock the vast tracts of prospective ground currently lying dormant.

At the same time, he said the industry’s long-term ambitions must be supported by areas capable of delivering immediate production gains. In that regard, artisanal and small-scale miners continue to play a pivotal role, accounting for approximately 75 percent of gold deliveries to Fidelity Gold Refinery.

“Within the long game, there are pockets of opportunities for quick returns that will propel the long game. It’s a long game for sure, but within the long game, there are pockets of opportunities for quick returns that will propel the long game. So this is where we see the role for artisanal and small-scale miners. We want to call upon you to find those pockets of opportunities that will propel the movement of our mining industry into a giant transformational effort for Zimbabwe,” Dr Wushe said.

On the policy front, the Permanent Secretary reaffirmed government’s commitment to maintaining a conducive operating environment for mining investment.

• E-Cadastre System Set for Launch by Year-End, Says Dr Wushe

Zimbabwe’s long-awaited electronic cadastre (e-cadastre) system is on track to go live before the end of 2026, with the Government currently conducting live demonstrations and final testing as it moves to modernise the administration of mining titles.

Speaking at the sidelines of the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe Annual Mining Conference in Victoria Falls, Ministry of Mines and Mining Development Permanent Secretary Dr Thomas Utete Wushe said the Government had brought the system to the mining industry to demonstrate its commitment to implementing a digital mining title management platform.

“We have come here to the Chamber to demonstrate that the Government is serious about moving to the next level as far as the e-cadastre system is concerned. Here at this conference, we are running a test run of the e-cadastre system. We have brought it to the mining executives and the wider mining community to say, come and see where we are now,” said Dr Wushe.

The e-cadastre system is expected to fundamentally transform the management of mining claims and titles in Zimbabwe, helping to eliminate longstanding disputes over claim boundaries, ownership and overlapping rights that have often created uncertainty within the sector.

Dr Wushe said the project has been years in the making and represents one of the most significant reforms in the country’s mining administration framework.

“Given the long journey we have taken in implementing and designing this critical system, we believe it will help us manage mining titles in Zimbabwe and bring a final end to conflicts and disputes regarding boundaries and titles,” he said.

The Ministry has already completed several critical stages of the project, including training surveyors and data capture personnel, while also working closely with the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe and other stakeholders to address issues that had previously been identified as obstacles to implementation.

“We have trained the surveyors, we have trained the data capturers, and we have worked together with the Chamber, which has supported us in resolving issues that were seen as stumbling blocks,” said Dr Wushe.

He expressed confidence that the platform would be operational before the end of the year.

“I can assure you that by the end of the year the system will be up and running,” he said.

As part of the testing process, mining executives attending the conference are being given an opportunity to interact with the platform and assess its capabilities.

According to Dr Wushe, data for most large-scale mining companies has already been loaded onto the system, enabling users to view title information and understand how the platform will operate.

“Today we are conducting test drives, and these demonstrations will continue over the next three days. Mining executives will be able to see where their titles are because the data for large mining companies is already available on the system,” he said.

Dr Wushe added that approximately 60 per cent of the required data has already been uploaded and can now be viewed through the platform.

The next phase of implementation will focus on capturing and integrating data relating to small-scale and artisanal mining titles to ensure the system provides a complete national record of mining rights.

“When we complete the population of small-scale and artisanal mining titles, we will be ready to tell the Zimbabwean nation that the system is ready for use,” he said.

The e-cadastre system is expected to improve transparency, strengthen governance, reduce mining title disputes and enhance investor confidence in Zimbabwe’s mining sector, which remains a key pillar of the country’s economic development agenda.

Central banks globally are accelerating their shift towards gold, with a record number of monetary institutions planning to increase their gold reserves over the coming year, according to the World Gold Council’s 2026 Central Bank Gold Reserves Survey.

By Ryan Chigoche

The survey, which drew a record 76 responses from central banks worldwide between February and May 2026, found that an overwhelming 89% of reserve managers expect global central bank gold holdings to continue increasing over the next 12 months. A record 45% of respondents said they expect to increase their own institutions’ gold holdings, up from 43% last year, while only 1% anticipate a decrease.

Shaokai Fan, Global Head of Central Banks at the World Gold Council, commented: “This year’s survey sends a clear message: central bank demand for gold remains on an upward trajectory. A record number of respondents plan to add gold to their own reserves in the next year, while a large majority expect global official sector holdings to keep rising.”

The growing appetite for gold is being driven by a combination of longstanding reserve management considerations and a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape.

Gold’s performance during times of crisis remains the top reason central banks hold the metal, cited by a record 90% of respondents. This was closely followed by gold’s role as a long-term store of value (84%) and as a portfolio diversification tool (82%). For emerging market and developing economy central banks, the geopolitical risk hedge function was particularly significant, with 85% highlighting this as a key consideration.

Beyond gold’s traditional role as a safe-haven asset, the survey points to another factor shaping reserve management decisions: expectations that the US dollar’s dominance could gradually weaken in the years ahead.

Nearly three-quarters of respondents (74%) expect the dollar’s share of global reserves to be lower five years from now. Interestingly, respondents believe the share of other major currencies, including the euro and renminbi, will remain largely unchanged over the same period. This suggests that gold, rather than any single currency, stands to be the primary beneficiary of the shifting reserve landscape.

The shift in reserve management strategies is not only influencing what central banks buy but also where they choose to store their bullion.

The Bank of England remains the most popular vaulting location at 57%, followed by domestic storage at 49% and the Bank for International Settlements at 16%. However, central banks are increasingly diversifying where they keep their gold. In the past 12 months, 9% of respondents increased domestic storage, up from 5% last year, while 10% diversified their overseas storage locations, a significant jump from just 2% previously. This trend is expected to continue, with 7% planning to increase domestic storage and 9% planning to diversify overseas locations in the coming year.

As central banks expand their gold holdings and reassess storage arrangements, attention is also turning to how future purchases will be financed.

When it comes to financing new gold acquisitions, half of respondents indicated they would do so through domestic purchase programmes in local currency. A further 38% said they would sell existing reserve assets to fund their gold buying.

Zimbabwe’s recent gold reserve accumulation mirrors many of the trends highlighted in the World Gold Council survey, underscoring how the global shift towards bullion is increasingly being reflected across African economies.

The country’s gold reserves stood at 4.48 tonnes as of May 2026, placing Zimbabwe 11th in Africa and third in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), behind South Africa and Mauritius.

The reserves have grown by approximately one tonne since President Mnangagwa’s previous inspection in 2025. Since April 2024, holdings have surged by 198.7% from just over one tonne, reflecting a deliberate strategy to strengthen the country’s reserve position and support the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency.

With authorities targeting five tonnes of gold reserves by year-end, Zimbabwe’s accumulation drive aligns with a broader global trend in which central banks are increasingly turning to bullion as a store of value, a hedge against uncertainty, and a cornerstone of reserve diversification.

Zimbabwe Will Not Pursue Growth at Any Cost, Dr Wushe Declares as He Emphasises Need for Environmental Protection

The urgency of balancing Zimbabwe’s mining expansion with environmental protection and agricultural preservation has taken centre stage, with Permanent Secretary for Mines and Mining Development Dr Thomas Utete Wushe warning that the country cannot afford to sacrifice its natural inheritance in pursuit of mineral wealth, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

His call comes just weeks after President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a state of disaster for 17 rivers, including the Mazowe, Save, Sanyati, Munyati, Mutare and Umzingwane, ravaged by years of legal and illegal alluvial mining.

An estimated 85,000 people in Chimanimani and Mutasa have been left exposed to polluted water and waterborne diseases from riverbed mining, while Bindura’s water crisis has been blamed on upstream mining operations.

Speaking at a World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Zimbabwe event on sustainable mining and environmental stewardship, Dr Wushe acknowledged the significant economic opportunities presented by the mining sector but stressed that the country will not pursue growth at any cost.

“Mining creates opportunity, but it also creates pressure on land, water, biodiversity and communities. These trade-offs are real, and they must be confronted, not ignored. Zimbabwe will not pursue growth at any cost,” Dr Wushe declared. “Our mineral wealth must drive tangible national development, uplift communities and guarantee a long-term environmentally sustainable future for the country.”

The Permanent Secretary’s remarks come as the government positions mining as a cornerstone of its economic transformation strategy, with ambitious targets for sector growth. However, he stressed that mineral development must coexist harmoniously with agriculture, tourism and other sectors that depend on healthy ecosystems.

The tension between mining and farming has become increasingly visible, with competing land-use claims sparking acrimony in areas where mining licences have been issued on prime agricultural land. Farmers have complained of contamination, displacement and reduced yields, while mining advocates point to the sector’s contribution of approximately 80% of export earnings and 12% of GDP.

Dr Wushe said the government bears responsibility for managing these competing interests through clear policy, enforced regulation and accountable institutions.

“The role of government is clear. It is to ensure that these trade-offs are managed in the national interest, guided by clear policy, enforced regulation and accountable institutions.”

On the regulatory front, Dr Wushe revealed that the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development is finalising the new Mines and Minerals Bill, a modern legislative framework designed to replace the archaic Mines and Minerals Act (Chapter 21:05), which dates back to 1961. The new law is expected to introduce a digital cadastre system to eliminate mining claim disputes, strengthen environmental compliance and require companies to contribute to rehabilitation funds before operations begin.

Dr Wushe also pushed for greater value addition and beneficiation, emphasising that Zimbabwe must move beyond raw mineral exports by developing integrated value chains that create jobs and stimulate industrial growth.

But sustainable mining, he said, must deliver tangible benefits to host communities beyond extraction.

“Communities must see mining not as a disruption imposed upon them, but as a driver of opportunity and improved livelihoods.”

Achieving this will require sustained investment in local infrastructure, skills development and enterprise growth to ensure mining communities share in the country’s mineral wealth.

Dr Wushe called on development partners to support initiatives that promote responsible mining practices, protect the environment and strengthen community resilience. He pledged the government’s continued backing for sustainable mining programmes, stressing that collaboration among government, industry, communities and development partners will be critical to ensuring the sector drives economic transformation without compromising Zimbabwe’s environmental heritage.

MUTAPA Gold Resources Chief Executive Officer Patrick Maseva-Shayawabaya has outlined five key priorities that he believes are critical to unlocking the full potential of Zimbabwe’s gold sector, with exploration and formalisation of artisanal mining taking centre stage.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Speaking at the Chamber of Mines Gold Symposium, which his company sponsored for the second year running, Maseva-Shayawabaya said the conference comes at a “decisive moment” for Zimbabwe’s gold industry.

“Gold remains one of the country’s leading strategic minerals. This is the leading foreign currency generator. It supports millions of livelihoods, attracts investment, and creates opportunities for industrial growth,” he said.

“But the future we seek will not be secured by current production alone.”

Five Connected Priorities

The Mutapa Gold Resources CEO identified five interconnected priority areas that require urgent attention:

• Strategic context of Zimbabwe’s gold sector
• Exploration as the foundation for growth
• Governance as an enabler and facilitator
• Formalising artisanal and small-scale mining
• Critical success factors to transform ASM into a transparent, inclusive, and competitive pillar of national development

Exploration Foundation for Growth

Maseva-Shayawabaya warned that the current mining boom is built on exploration work conducted decades ago, citing one of the companies in the Mutapa Gold Resources Group, Freda Rebecca, which started operating in 1988 following exploration conducted in the early 1980s.

“Freda Rebecca’s current life of mine is four years, which means we’ve not done as much exploration as we should have,” he said candidly.

He noted that countries that make geological information accessible, promote certainty in mineral tenure, and apply clear rules for exploration investment are better positioned to attract long-term capital for exploration.

“For Zimbabwe, this means strengthening the bridge between public geological institutions, private explorers, financiers, and cooperation so that exploration becomes a national platform rather than a speculative activity,” he said.

Governance as an Enabler

Maseva-Shayawabaya stressed that governance must be understood “not as an administrative burden but as the operating system for a credible gold industry.”

Good governance systems give investors confidence, communities assurance, government visibility over national resources, and producers access to responsible markets, he said.

“These principles matter because gold is highly mobile, has a high value, and is vulnerable to leakages when oversight is weak. Governance is therefore not separate from production. It is what protects value,” he said.

Formalising Artisanal Mining a Passion

The CEO described formalising artisanal and small-scale mining as “one of the most important development questions facing Zimbabwe’s gold sector today.”

He acknowledged that artisanal miners are already part of the national production base and an important source of livelihoods, particularly in rural areas.

“The challenge is not whether this sector exists; it is whether it operates safely, legally, productively, and in a way that strengthens national gold accountability,” he said.

Maseva-Shayawabaya stressed that formalisation must be practical and incremental, simplifying access to training, creating secure operating areas, providing technical training, improving safety and health, supporting processing technologies, enabling access to finance, and connecting miners to formal gold markets.

Business Case for Supporting ASM

In a notable departure from conventional corporate rhetoric, Maseva-Shayawabaya declared that Mutapa Gold Resources’ support for artisanal miners is not charity but business.

“We are not by any chance the leaders in this field, but we have decided that we can co-exist and prosper together with artisanal miners,” he said.

“Our goal has been to support artisanal miners to work safely, provide them with technical assistance, and provide them with working capital so that their production increases. And I must add, it’s not charity for us. It’s a business for us. We benefit from the mining. The artisanal miners also benefit.”

• Bikita Minerals Restarts Lithium Concentrate Exports After Securing Licence

Bikita Minerals has resumed lithium concentrate exports after obtaining an export licence from Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Mines and Mining Development under the country’s new lithium export framework, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

The company, a subsidiary of China’s Sinomine Resource Group, said the approval marks a key step in aligning its operations with Zimbabwe’s evolving mineral beneficiation policy while providing greater certainty for investors.

“Bikita Minerals has resumed lithium concentrate exports after securing an export licence from Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Mines and Mining Development under the country’s new lithium export framework,” the company said in a statement.

Bikita said the development reflects its commitment to responsible mining, regulatory compliance, and sustainable growth.

“The development marks a milestone in our commitment to responsible mining, transparency, and value addition,” Bikita Minerals said.

That milestone was hard-won. The resumption follows a recent government ban on lithium concentrate exports, imposed to force faster local beneficiation. However, after industry consultation and recognition that domestic processing capacity could not immediately absorb all output, Harare eased the ban into a quota-based system. Miners may now export a portion of their concentrate subject to annual licences, while remaining committed to building local processing plants ahead of a government deadline.

This policy shift has clarified the investment landscape. Zimbabwe, which hosts some of the world’s largest hard-rock lithium deposits, has been tightening controls on raw mineral exports as it seeks to build local processing capacity and capture more value from minerals critical to the global energy transition.

Against this backdrop, the company said it is advancing plans for a US$400 million lithium sulphate processing plant in Zimbabwe, with preliminary works already underway, ahead of the government’s 2027 deadline for ending unprocessed lithium exports.

The company added that its long-term strategy is centred on responsible resource extraction, community development, and supporting Zimbabwe’s economic transformation agenda through increased local processing of minerals.