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Gold buying prices in Zimbabwe per gram/ ounce, 1 April 2026

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Gold buying prices in Zimbabwe per gram/ ounce, 1 April 2026

Gold buying prices in Zimbabwe per gram/ ounce, 1 April 2026, from the official gold buyer and exporter Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR).

1 oz = 31.1035 g

CategoryPrice ($/g)Price ($/oz)
SG 90% and above140.204,360.71
SG 85% and above but below 90%138.724,314.68
SG 80% and above but below 85%137.234,268.33
SG 75% and above but below 80%135.754,222.30
Sample 5g and above but below 10g133.524,152.94
Fire Assay CASH140.944,383.73

 

Note: The Fire Assay cash price applies to gold above 100g, with no sample deduction.

A sample of not more than 10g is deducted for the Fire Assay Transfer price.

China’s Lithium Companies Back Zimbabwe Export Ban as Kamativi Mine Reaches 2.3 Million Tonne Capacity

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China’s Lithium Companies Back Zimbabwe Export Ban as Kamativi Mine Reaches 2.3 Million Tonne Capacity
  • China’s Lithium Companies Ready to Cooperate with Zimbabwe Government

Chinese lithium mining companies operating in Zimbabwe are fully prepared to cooperate with government authorities on verification, sampling and investigations, the Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Zimbabwe has said.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Speaking at a breakfast meeting on Zimbabwe’s export ban on raw minerals and lithium concentrates, organised by the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation (ZELO) at Holiday Inn in Harare on Tuesday, Huang Minghai outlined the ongoing investments and compliance efforts of Chinese companies in the lithium sector.

Huang emphasised that Chinese companies place significant importance on the comprehensive utilisation of mineral resources and have already undertaken investments and research in this area.

“The companies place significant importance on the comprehensive utilisation of mineral resources and have already undertaken investments and research in this area,” Huang said.

He outlined specific projects underway:

  • Bikita Minerals completed the construction of a caesium flotation plant in August 2025 and a tantalum-niobium recovery plant in December 2025.
  • Kamativi Mining Company is currently constructing a tin, tantalum, and niobium recovery system, which is expected to commence operations in September 2026.

For other associated elements found in Zimbabwe’s lithium deposits, Huang noted that recovery has not yet reached economically viable levels.

“For other associated elements, the current grades have not yet reached economically viable recovery levels,” he explained.

The counsellor emphasised that Chinese companies are committed to working with Zimbabwean authorities to ensure compliance with local regulations.

“In addition, the companies have invited the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to conduct comprehensive elemental analysis and research on lithium concentrates. All five companies are fully prepared to cooperate with government authorities regarding supervision, sampling, and investigations,” Huang said.

This commitment comes against the backdrop of the government’s recent suspension of raw lithium exports and its stated intention to tighten monitoring and enforcement across the sector. The government announced on 25 February 2026 the immediate suspension of all raw mineral and lithium concentrate exports, including shipments already in transit, citing widespread leakages, licence abuse, and failure to declare valuable by-minerals.

Huang also addressed the nature of lithium concentrate as a globally traded commodity, noting that Zimbabwe’s production follows international norms.

“It is also important to note that lithium concentrate is an internationally standardised commodity, and it is produced and exported in the same form in major lithium-producing regions such as Australia, South America, and Southern Africa,” he said.

He added that downstream processing of lithium follows established environmental practices globally.

“Following lithium extraction in downstream processing, the remaining residues are typically classified as industrial solid waste and are disposed of through licensed third-party facilities, in accordance with established international industry practices.”

Processing Capacity Developments

While Huang did not detail specific processing capacity figures, the companies he referenced have made significant strides. Bikita Minerals, operated by Sinomine, has been expanding its operations. The Bikita mine is one of Zimbabwe’s oldest lithium mines, having produced lithium minerals for decades, and the new recovery plants for caesium and tantalum-niobium represent significant value addition to the operation.

Kamativi Mining Company, operated by China’s Yahua Group, has been developing its processing infrastructure since taking over operations at the site of the former tin mine. The planned tin, tantalum, and niobium recovery system is part of a broader strategy to maximise value from the Kamativi pegmatites, which are known to contain multiple minerals.

The meeting comes five weeks after Zimbabwe announced the immediate suspension of all raw mineral and lithium concentrate exports. The government has cited widespread leakages, licence abuse, and failure to declare valuable by-minerals as reasons for the accelerated enforcement. Ministry of Mines Permanent Secretary Pfungwa Kunaka has testified before Parliament that studies confirmed significant losses of rare earths, tantalum, and niobium that were being shipped out without declaration.

The recovery plants that Chinese companies are constructing—for caesium at Bikita and for tin, tantalum, and niobium at Kamativi—directly address these concerns. By recovering these associated minerals locally, Zimbabwe can capture value that was previously being lost.

Huang’s address at the ZELO-organised breakfast meeting signals that Chinese investors, who dominate Zimbabwe’s lithium sector, are prepared to work within the new regulatory framework. For Zimbabwe, the challenge is to balance enforcement with continued investment. For Chinese companies, the challenge is to demonstrate compliance while maintaining operations during the transition to local processing.

The embassy’s presence at the meeting underscored the importance of the sector to bilateral relations. Chinese companies have invested billions of dollars in Zimbabwe’s lithium sector since 2021, making them central to the country’s beneficiation ambitions.

With recovery plants coming online for associated minerals and processing capacity expanding, the foundations for a new phase in Zimbabwe’s lithium industry are being laid. Whether those foundations will support the industrial future the government envisions remains to be seen.

Coal Gasification in Zimbabwe: Huge Potential for Fuel and Chemicals, but Demand Limits Investment

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Coal Gasification in Zimbabwe: Huge Potential for Fuel and Chemicals, but Demand Limits Investment
  • Coal Gasification Could Unlock New Value for Zimbabwe, But Demand Remains Key Hurdle

Zimbabwe’s coal sector holds significant potential for downstream value addition, including advanced processes like coal gasification and coal-to-liquid fuel conversion, but insufficient domestic demand remains the primary obstacle to large-scale beneficiation investment, the Chamber of Mines has revealed.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Speaking at a workshop on energy minerals co-hosted by ActionAid Zimbabwe and the Parliament of Zimbabwe, Chamber of Mines Economic Policy and Investment Promotion Manager David Matyanga outlined the full spectrum of coal beneficiation opportunities available to Zimbabwe, from basic washing to complex chemical conversion.

Members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development were in attendance. Matyanga began by explaining that coal is the foundational product from which all other beneficiation flows.

“The basic sellable product of any mining organisation is coal. From coal, we then move on to any other product above that. The coal sector has a wide range of options for beneficiation,” he said.

He explained that thermal coal, used for power generation and industrial heating, is the most basic product, extracted directly from the pit with minimal processing.

“Thermal coal is a product that cannot be beneficiated in any other way. It is from the pit to the processing plant.”

The first stage of beneficiation involves washing, which removes ash and other impurities from the raw coal.

“There are various processes that are undertaken to increase the value of the product, starting with washing, removing ash and other impurities within that product. Once the product is washed, then various off-takers can pick that up for various applications.”

These applications include industrial boilers for steam production, laundry operations, and heating systems across manufacturing sectors.

Matyanga explained that coal is naturally ranked into different grades, with the highest quality found at the base of coal seams.

“Coal, by its nature, is ranked into various grades. At the very top is thermal coal; at the base of the coal seams is your coking coal.”

Coking coal undergoes processing through coke batteries to produce coke, which is essential for:

• Ferrochrome production
• Iron and steel manufacturing
• Other industrial applications

The coke manufacturing process itself yields valuable chemical by-products that feed into other industries.

“From the coke manufacturing process, you get a lot of other by-products, such as steam. You also get to produce chemicals such as toluene, tar, benzene, and others, which feed into the chemical sector.”

This creates opportunities for linkages between the mining and chemical industries, adding further value within Zimbabwe.

Matyanga highlighted the most advanced beneficiation options: coal gasification and coal liquefaction, processes that convert coal into synthetic fuels and chemicals.

“There are options for coal gasification and coal electrification, and those processes produce diesel from coal. A typical plant is one that is there in South Africa, which converts coal into diesel.”

He was referring to Sasol’s world-renowned coal-to-liquid (CTL) facility in Secunda, which has operated for decades, converting low-grade coal into high-value liquid fuels.

However, Matyanga was clear that the primary barrier to such investment in Zimbabwe is insufficient domestic demand.

“The basic requirement, as you indicated, is demand. You do not have sufficient demand to warrant the investment in a plant that manufactures those products.”

This is a critical point: coal-to-liquid plants require massive capital investment and operate most efficiently at enormous scale. Without a guaranteed offtake for the products—both liquid fuels and chemicals—such projects cannot achieve the returns investors require.

Matyanga revealed that a detailed assessment of Zimbabwe’s coal gasification potential has already been conducted.

“However, a study was done by a German company, which indicated that coal gasification and coal electrification are possible. That document is with the metallurgy department. I think we can actually look it up and see whether it is something that is worth investing in.”

The existence of this study suggests that the technical viability of coal gasification in Zimbabwe has already been established. What remains is an economic assessment of whether the investment case can be made given current demand projections.

For Zimbabwe, which holds significant coal reserves in the Hwange and other coalfields, the question of coal beneficiation is strategic. The country currently exports substantial quantities of raw coal and coke to regional markets, particularly to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and Botswana.

Moving up the value chain to produce liquid fuels and chemicals would require:

  • A clear assessment of domestic and regional demand for these products
  • A supportive fiscal framework for large-scale capital investment
  • Anchor investors willing to commit to multi-billion-dollar projects
  • Infrastructure to support such operations, including power, water, and transport

Matyanga’s remarks suggest that the technical groundwork has been laid. The German study sits with the metallurgy department, awaiting the right policy and market conditions to be dusted off and implemented.

For Zimbabwe, the question is not whether coal beneficiation is possible—it is. The question is whether the country can create the conditions that make the investment worthwhile. That requires understanding demand, engaging potential off-takers, and ensuring that the fiscal and regulatory environment can support projects of the scale required.

As Matyanga noted, South Africa’s Sasol provides proof of concept. Zimbabwe must now decide whether to follow that path and, if so, what it needs to do to make it viable.

Kamativi to Begin Tin, Tantalum, Niobium Recovery in September as Zimbabwe Moves to Capture Lost Value

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Kamativi to Begin Tin, Tantalum, Niobium Recovery in September as Zimbabwe Moves to Capture Lost Value

After almost 2 years of R&D on recovery technology of micro-elements from lithium ore, Kamativi Mining Company is currently constructing a tin, tantalum, and niobium recovery system at its lithium operation in Matabeleland North, a project expected to commence operations in September 2026 that will allow the mine to extract additional value from its tailings, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

The recovery system, confirmed by the Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Zimbabwe, Huang Minghai, at a breakfast meeting organised by the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation (ZELO) on Tuesday, represents a significant step toward capturing the full value of Kamativi’s multi-mineral deposits.

For decades, the Kamativi mine was one of Zimbabwe’s largest tin producers before its closure in 1994 due to low global tin prices. During its 58 years of operation, the mine produced over 37,000 tonnes of tin from 27 million tonnes of tin-lithium-caesium-tantalum-bearing pegmatites. Beyond tin, the mine historically produced small quantities of tantalite, spodumene, and beryllium, with economic reserves of niobium and tungsten also identified.

Today, under the operation of Yahua Group, Kamativi has been transformed into a major lithium producer, with the mine currently achieving an annual raw ore processing capacity of 2.3 million tonnes. But the lithium revival has brought with it an opportunity to recover the other valuable minerals that have always been present in the Kamativi pegmatites.

The recovery project was finalised and commenced in September 2025, months before Zimbabwe announced the immediate suspension of all raw mineral and lithium concentrate exports on 25 February 2026, according to KMC’s COO, Mr Turkey Liang.

Mines Minister Dr Polite Kambamura cited “continued malpractices during the exportation of minerals” and the need to “enhance local mineral value addition and beneficiation.”

Central to the government’s concerns was the failure of some mining companies to declare valuable by-minerals found in lithium ore bodies. Ministry of Mines Permanent Secretary Pfungwa Kunaka testified before Parliament that studies confirmed significant losses of rare earths, tantalum, and niobium that were being shipped out without declaration.

The Kamativi recovery system directly addresses this concern. By establishing the capacity to recover tin, tantalum, and niobium locally, Zimbabwe can capture value that was previously lost when raw concentrate was exported.

The Kamativi deposit has always been known for its mineral diversity. Cassiterite (tin ore) was the primary target during the mine’s operation, with tantalite and columbite present as gangue materials. The site also holds significant spodumene (lithium) deposits, which are now the focus of current mining operations.

But for Kamativi, the decision to recover tin, tantalum, and niobium was driven by commercial reality: diversifying revenue streams to protect through comprehensive and maximised utilisation of resources.

“When lithium prices crash, having tin and tantalum to fall back on can be the difference between staying open and shutting down. This project is smart business, not just good policy,” one industry observer noted.

The tantalum and niobium content is particularly significant. Both metals are critical for modern technologies—tantalum is essential for capacitors in electronics, while niobium is used in high-strength steel alloys and superalloys for jet engines and turbines.

Kamativi is not alone in pursuing by-mineral recovery. Bikita Minerals, operated by Sinomine, completed a caesium flotation plant in August 2025 and a tantalum-niobium recovery plant in December 2025. The pattern suggests a sector-wide shift toward capturing the full value of Zimbabwe’s multi-mineral deposits.

With the tin, tantalum, and niobium recovery system expected to commence operations in September 2026, Kamativi is on track to join Bikita in demonstrating that Zimbabwe’s lithium deposits are not just about lithium. The question now is whether other lithium producers will follow suit.

The Kamativi project is also a test of whether the government’s enforcement strategy—the ban on raw exports—can successfully drive investment in recovery infrastructure that captures value that was previously being lost.

As one industry observer noted: “The Kamativi project shows what is possible when investors commit to full recovery. The question is whether the timeline and the economics will work for all players. September 2026 is not far away.”

For Zimbabwe, the Kamativi recovery system represents a concrete step toward the beneficiation vision that has driven the export ban. If successful, it could become a model for how the country’s lithium sector should operate—extracting not just lithium but every valuable mineral the ground provides.

Fidelity Gold Refinery opens a gold buying branch in Mazowe

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Fidelity Gold Refinery opens a gold buying branch in Mazowe

Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) has opened a new gold buying office at Mazowe Post Office, bringing formal gold sales closer to local miners. The office offers instant cash payments, reducing travel, transport costs, and security risks while promoting safe and formal deliveries.

This move eliminates the need for miners in the area to travel long distances to sell their gold, the company has announced.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

The move is the latest in a series of initiatives by Zimbabwe’s sole gold buyer and exporter to decentralise its operations, reduce transaction costs for artisanal miners, and encourage formal deliveries by making the selling process faster and more convenient.

“You no longer have to travel long distances to sell your gold. Simply deliver your gold to our new buying office and get instant cash payments on the spot,” FGR said in an announcement shared on its social media platforms.

Mazowe, located in Mashonaland Central Province, is one of Zimbabwe’s historic gold mining districts, hosting a mix of large-scale operations and a vibrant artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector. However, miners have often faced logistical hurdles, including transport costs, security risks, and time lost when travelling to FGR’s main Harare refinery or other distant buying points.

The new office, situated at a recognisable and accessible landmark, addresses those challenges directly. By offering instant cash payments on the spot, FGR ensures that miners can immediately reinvest in their operations, pay workers, or support their families without delay.

“This is exactly what we have been asking for,” said Simba, a local miner who spoke to Mining Zimbabwe. “Now we can sell in the morning and be back at our shafts by midday. No more spending two days on the road.”

FGR’s expansion of its buying agent network and direct purchase points has been a key pillar of Zimbabwe’s strategy to formalise the ASM sector, which now contributes approximately 75% of national gold deliveries.

By making formal channels more convenient for buyers than informal channels, FGR reduces the incentive for side marketing and smuggling, activities that deprive the national fiscus of royalties, taxes, and foreign currency.

How Pickstone Peerless Shows That ASM and Large Scale Mining Can Coexist in Zimbabwe

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How Pickstone Peerless Shows That ASM and Large Scale Mining Can Coexist in Zimbabwe

ASM, Large Scale Mining Can Coexist, Pickstone Peerless Shows the Way

A model of coexistence between large-scale mining operations and artisanal small-scale miners is emerging at Pickstone Peerless Mine, offering a blueprint for resolving one of Zimbabwe’s most persistent mining sector challenges, Association of Mine Surveyors of Zimbabwe (AMSZ) President Stewart Gumbi has said.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Speaking to Mining Zimbabwe on the sidelines of the AMSZ first-quarter technical visit hosted at the Dallaglio-owned mine, Gumbi highlighted the operation’s arrangements with small-scale miners as a notable example of how competing interests can be managed safely and productively.

“We’ve also learned that there can be coexistence between large-scale operations and small-scale miners,” Gumbi said. “These people are a living example of that, and we’ve noted some arrangements of how they can ensure that the small-scale miners do not interfere with large-scale operations.”

He said Pickstone has implemented measures to reduce risk, ensuring that small-scale miners do not accidentally encroach into the mine’s workings or cause incidents related to accidental blasting.

“They’ve demonstrated that they have considered all these issues, and they are doing certain procedures to make sure that both parties are safe,” Gumbi added.

The Pickstone model comes at a critical juncture for Zimbabwe’s mining sector. Artisanal and small-scale miners now account for more than 60% of gold deliveries to Fidelity Printers and Refiners, contributing approximately 12% of the country’s gross domestic product and the bulk of foreign exchange earnings. An estimated 500,000 Zimbabweans are engaged in artisanal and small-scale mining, extracting gold, lithium, diamonds, platinum group metals, chrome, cobalt, copper, iron ore, tin, and gemstones.

Yet the sector has long operated in a precarious space, with miners facing severe health and safety risks. Many lack proper personal protective equipment, exposing them to toxic substances like mercury, which harms lungs, skin, and eyes while polluting air, water, and soil. Poorly ventilated pits increase the risk of lung diseases such as silicosis and pneumonia. Deep shafts, some reaching 40 meters, are prone to collapses and flooding, often resulting in injuries or deaths.

Zimbabwe’s mining death toll reached 237 fatalities in 2023, the worst in over five decades, prompting urgent calls for life-saving interventions, including proper drainage systems, reinforced mine supports, and real-time weather monitoring.

In response to these challenges, the government has introduced sweeping reforms aimed at formalising the sector. Since 1 July 2025, the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has enforced a strict directive requiring all prospecting, pegging, and registration applications to be accompanied by survey-grade coordinates produced by a registered and certified surveyor.

The directive effectively bans the use of handheld GPS devices for pegging claims, a practice long associated with imprecise boundaries and overlapping titles that have fueled disputes, double allocations, and, in some cases, violent confrontations among miners. Miners must now engage licensed surveyors registered in the Ministry of Mines database who are paid-up members of AMSZ.

“We commend the Ministry for recognising the role of professional surveyors in bringing integrity to pegging processes,” Gumbi said when the directive was announced. “Our members are qualified and trained to provide precise geospatial data. This decision also protects miners, it ensures their claims are legally defensible and georeferenced in the national system.”

The Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) has urged all artisanal and small-scale miners to promptly engage registered mine surveyors to avoid operational disruptions, formalising a partnership with AMSZ to support implementation of the government’s Mining Cadastre Information Management System.

“This collaboration is a direct response to the government’s new mandate requiring all mining title holders to submit accurate surveyed coordinates for their claims as part of the Mining Cadastre Information Management System, a critical step in formalising Zimbabwe’s ASM sector,” the ZMF said in a statement.

Both organisations agreed to develop a standardised tariff schedule for surveying services tailored to typical small-scale claim sizes, a move designed to prevent overcharging and ensure affordability for miners.

The Pickstone Peerless model demonstrates that structured coexistence is not only possible but beneficial. For artisanal miners, formalisation through such arrangements offers a pathway to safer working conditions, improved wages, and better access to financing. For large-scale operators, it reduces the risk of boundary disputes and accidental encroachments that can disrupt production and create safety hazards.

Gumbi noted that the technical visit itself provided an opportunity for surveyors to exchange ideas on executing the cadastral exercise and ensuring the continued delivery of the best results for the government mandate bestowed on mining surveyors.

“Surveyors had a lot of exchange and interchange that they did at this technical visit,” he said.

As Zimbabwe pushes forward with mining reforms and the rollout of a digital cadastre, the insistence on survey-grade coordinates marks a turning point for governance in the sector. It signals the end of an era dominated by informal practices and boundary confusion and the beginning of a more professional and transparent mining environment.

Pickstone Peerless, with its demonstrated coexistence model, stands as an example of what is possible when large-scale operators and small-scale miners find common ground.

How Digital Survey Technology Is Transforming Mine Safety and Efficiency in Zimbabwe

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How Digital Survey Technology Is Transforming Mine Safety and Efficiency in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s mining sector is entering a new digital era, with advanced surveying technologies such as drones and LiDAR transforming how mines operate. From improving safety to boosting efficiency and production, these innovations are redefining the role of mine surveyors.

The Association of Mine Surveyors of Zimbabwe (AMSZ) has lauded Pickstone Peerless Mine’s embrace of digital surveying technologies, with President Stewart Gumbi highlighting the operation’s adoption of drone technology and LiDAR as a model for modernising the profession, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Speaking to this publication following the AMSZ first-quarter technical visit hosted at the Dallaglio-owned mine, Gumbi outlined key takeaways from the gathering, emphasising the critical role of surveyors in driving safety, efficiency, and production in Zimbabwe’s mining sector.

“The use of modern technology in terms of software to predict, to accurately plan and design operations, remember, these people are reviving an old mine and making it into a new mine,” Gumbi said. “That’s why they were explaining to say it’s a new old mine.”

The mine, which resumed underground production in September 2023 after last being mined in 1971, has made surveying the foundation of its digital transformation strategy. Mine Technical Services Manager Mathew Mamina told the visiting delegation that the goal is to become “fully digital in all the processes that we do,” with the surveying pillar at the core of that journey.

Gumbi noted that the adoption of software and high-tech design tools enables Pickstone to revive the operation safely and efficiently.

“The use of software and other high-tech to design this enables them to revive this operation and make it operational very safely,” he said.

Drones and LiDAR Take Surveyors Out of Harm’s Way

A standout feature of Pickstone’s approach is its deployment of drone technology and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) systems, tools that Gumbi said remove mine surveyors from hazardous environments while delivering faster, more accurate results.

“They also have adopted issues to do with drone technology and LiDAR technology, things that remove the mine surveyor from hazardous mining environments. They deploy drones,” Gumbi said. “Number one, it gives them faster feedback, faster measurements, faster feedback and faster reporting. Number two, it keeps people away from danger. People don’t have to enter dangerous zones, but they can deploy drones to see.”

He explained that Pickstone uses drones to map out old workings, ensuring they do not accidentally blast into historical excavations, a critical safety measure in a mine with workings dating back to the 1800s.

“They mentioned they use drones to map out old workings so that they make sure they do not accidentally blast into old workings. So that adoption of proper hardware is also something that is notable,” Gumbi said.

The Technology in Practice

Drone-based surveying technology has proven transformative across the mining industry. A case study from a gold mine in Zimbabwe found that deploying a collision-tolerant drone with LiDAR payload achieved 90% survey coverage in a stope that previously yielded only 40% coverage with traditional methods, a 125% improvement in data collection.

The drone’s LiDAR sensor can capture point clouds accurate to within one centimetre, with a range of 100 metres and one million points per second, enabling quick, accurate scans of underground spaces. The technology also allows surveyors to collect 4K video and 12MP photo data simultaneously, with points of interest location tagged in the resulting 3D model, identifying the exact nature and location of cracks, faults, or ore veins.

In Zimbabwe, major platinum mines, including Zimplats and Implats Sibanye, have already adopted high-density LiDAR surveys coupled with high-resolution ortho imagery for precise topographical surface and terrain information, digital vector line mapping, and annual mine survey status reporting.

Surveying’s Role in Safety and Production

Gumbi emphasised that safety and efficiency are intertwined priorities for the association.

“Remember, one of the key pillars of the association is to increase safety and increase production and also increase output,” he said. “So they’ve demonstrated that they are doing all this. Safety is one of their considerations. Efficiency is there in their planning and their execution, and their output is as good as they have reported it.”

The AMSZ has been actively promoting technological advancement across the profession. At a previous technical visit to Shamva Gold Mine, Gumbi noted that the association needed to “promote and drive sector-specific technological advancements that benefit the mine surveying profession.”

Beyond technology, Gumbi highlighted the importance of professional standards. In 2025, AMSZ launched a nationwide register of qualified mine surveyors, categorised by province and accessible via the association’s website and Ministry of Mines notice boards. The initiative also introduced standardised service rates to prevent both overcharging and underpricing.

“We want miners to easily find registered professionals and ensure compliance,” Gumbi said at the launch. “Our goal is to maintain professionalism and ensure miners pay fair rates for the work being done.”

The technical visit to Pickstone Peerless provided surveyors from across Zimbabwe with an opportunity to interact, share ideas, and learn from the mine’s practices. Gumbi said the gathering allowed professionals to discuss how to execute the cadastral exercise and deliver the best results for the government mandate bestowed on mining surveyors.

“Surveyors had a lot of exchange and interchange that they did at this technical visit,” he said. “So yes, I think those are some of the key takeaways.”

As Zimbabwe’s mining sector continues to modernise, the adoption of digital surveying technologies is set to accelerate. The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development’s push for a digital cadastre, combined with the mandatory use of survey-grade coordinates for claim registration, places professional surveyors at the centre of the sector’s formalisation drive.

For Pickstone Peerless, the digital journey is just beginning. The mine currently operates at the “point scanning stage,” but Mamina has expressed interest in advancing to more sophisticated tools, including drone-mounted scanners and other instruments to improve surveying capabilities.

Gumbi’s message to the profession is clear, the future of mining lies in technology, and surveyors, equipped with the right tools and training, will lead the way.

Gold buying prices in Zimbabwe per gram/ ounce, 31 March 2026

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Gold buying prices in Zimbabwe per gram/ ounce, 31 March 2026

Gold buying prices in Zimbabwe per gram/ ounce, 31 March 2026, from the official gold buyer and exporter Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR).

1 oz = 31.1035 g

CategoryPrice ($/g)Price ($/oz)
SG 90% and above134.844,194.00
SG 85% and above but below 90%133.424,149.82
SG 80% and above but below 85%131.994,105.35
SG 75% and above but below 80%130.564,060.88
Sample 5g and above but below 10g128.423,994.31
Fire Assay CASH135.564,216.39

 

Note: The Fire Assay cash price applies to gold above 100g, with no sample deduction.

A sample of not more than 10g is deducted for the Fire Assay Transfer price.

Zimbabwe Lithium Sector Adopts PGM Model as Beneficiation Deadline Nears

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Zimbabwe Lithium Sector Adopts PGM Model as Beneficiation Deadline Nears

Zimbabwe’s lithium sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation, adopting the same cooperative beneficiation model that has proven successful in the platinum group metals industry, with smaller producers set to process their concentrate through facilities owned by larger players, the Chamber of Mines has revealed.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Speaking at a workshop on energy minerals co-hosted by ActionAid Zimbabwe and the Parliament of Zimbabwe, Chamber of Mines Senior Executive and Manpower Resource Advisor Pardon Chitsuro outlined the sector’s progress toward the government’s beneficiation targets and the innovative partnerships emerging to ensure all lithium is processed in the country.

Chitsuro confirmed that multiple processing facilities are nearing completion, putting Zimbabwe on track to meet its beneficiation objectives.

“Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe is anticipating to fully commission their plants anytime soon. They have planned for March, but our understanding is that they are almost done,” Chitsuro told the gathering.

Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe’s Arcadia Technology Zimbabwe plant, a US$400 million facility in Goromonzi, Mashonaland East Province, is Africa’s first lithium sulphate processing plant and is scheduled for commissioning in the first quarter of 2026. The facility comprises three production lines designed to produce 50,000 to 60,000 tonnes of lithium sulphate per annum, with the first line scheduled for January 2026 and subsequent lines in April 2026.

“Bikita Minerals and other key producers are at various levels of implementing and complying with the agreed deadline,” Chitsuro said.

Sinomine, which acquired Bikita Minerals in 2022, has committed US$500 million to construct a lithium sulphate processing facility at its operations in Masvingo Province. This facility is expected to be commissioned later in 2026, representing the second major sulphate plant.

A third lithium sulphate facility is also anticipated, with Minister of Mines and Mining Development Hon. Dr. Polite Kambamura confirming at the Mining Indaba in Cape Town that Zimbabwe will have three lithium sulphate plants commissioned in succession, the only such facilities in Africa.

What is particularly notable, Chitsuro explained, is the sector’s adoption of the cooperative framework pioneered by the platinum industry.

“What is more interesting is that the sector also adopted the approach that is being used by the PGM sector. Those that have got smaller resources and shorter life of mine are entering into agreements with those that have excess facilities, excess capacity rather.”

In the PGM sector, Zimplats has expanded its smelter capacity at the Selous Metallurgical Complex to process 380 kilotons of material per annum, three times its previous capacity, enabling it to not only meet its internal needs but also process concentrates from Mimosa Mining Company and other producers. This toll processing arrangement, which began in January 2025, allows Mimosa to utilise Zimplats’ expanded smelting capacity rather than building its own facility, which would have been economically unviable given its limited resource base.

The same logic is now being applied to lithium. Smaller producers with limited resource bases and shorter mine lives will partner with larger players that have built processing capacity, ensuring that all lithium concentrates are beneficiated in country without requiring every producer to construct their own plant.

The push toward local processing has been accelerated by the government’s decision to suspend all raw mineral and lithium concentrate exports effective February 26, 2026.

The government had initially announced a 2027 deadline for the ban, but moved the timeline forward after observing malpractices in the lithium mining industry. According to Minister Kambamura, “the industry responded otherwise by increasing its level of production and also increasing export volumes. There was also an increased appetite for lithium export permits, and the rationale behind it was to export as much product as possible before the notice period.”

The ban now applies to all lithium concentrates and raw minerals.

It should be noted that while lithium concentrates are now banned, other minerals in concentrates continue to be exported. Zimbabwe’s mineral exports remain robust across other commodities. In the first quarter of 2025, the country exported significant volumes of coal, coke, chrome ore lumpy, copper concentrates, high-carbon ferrochrome, scrap, and steel.

The PGM sector, through established arrangements like the Mimosa Zimplats toll processing agreement, continues to beneficiate and export processed PGM products.

The goal, Chitsuro said, is clear and achievable.

“So the intention is that come the deadline, all concentrates will be processed in the country, and the country will be exporting high-value lithium sulphates come 2027. And the expectation is that the country will benefit more.”

The numbers explain why this matters. Raw spodumene concentrate currently sells for around US$250 per tonne. Lithium sulphate, the intermediate product that feeds into battery manufacturing, commands US$18,000 to US$22,000 per tonne, a value multiple that transforms the economics of the entire sector. The transition from concentrate to sulphate represents a revenue multiplication of five to seven times per tonne of raw material processed.

While the processing infrastructure is coming online, Chitsuro warned that one critical element must be secured for the beneficiation vision to succeed: reliable electricity.

“I think power becomes of paramount importance, and we call upon the government to ensure that it supports the lithium sector and provides guaranteed power supplies so that these beneficiation facilities do not become white elephants.”

Lithium processing is energy-intensive. Converting concentrate to sulphate requires a consistent, high-quality power supply. Interruptions or shortages could idle plants that represent hundreds of millions of dollars in investment.

Chitsuro’s remarks paint a picture of a lithium sector racing against time to meet the beneficiation objectives. The processing infrastructure is nearly ready. The cooperative framework is in place. Smaller producers are linking with larger partners. And the value proposition, moving from US$250 per tonne to US$22,000 per tonne, is compelling.

For Zimbabwe, the stakes could not be higher. The country holds significant lithium reserves and is Africa’s largest producer. If the beneficiation transition succeeds, it will capture a share of the lithium value chain that has historically gone to processors elsewhere. If it fails, if plants cannot run, if partnerships falter, the opportunity may be lost.

Middle East Conflict Threatens Zimbabwe’s Gold Exports as Payment Disruptions Emerge

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Middle East Conflict Threatens Zimbabwe’s Gold Exports as Payment Disruptions Emerge

Zimbabwe’s gold sector is facing growing uncertainty as escalating tensions in the Middle East begin to disrupt payment channels and trade flows. With gold contributing nearly half of the country’s export earnings, industry players warn that liquidity constraints and delayed transactions could have wider economic implications.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Zimbabwe’s gold export receipts, which contributed 45% of total export earnings last year, face “indirect risk” from an escalation of the Middle East conflict, the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) has warned, as local traders report that war-related disruptions are already affecting gold sales and liquidity in the sector.

In a submission to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the chamber pointed to the United Arab Emirates as a major destination for Zimbabwe’s gold shipments.

“If tensions escalate, there may be tighter compliance, financial scrutiny, or disruptions in payment channels linked to Middle East markets, as well as a slowdown in economic activity,” the ZNCC said.

The submission, seen by Mining Zimbabwe, comes as Zimbabwe earned US$568.6 million from gold exports in the first two months of 2026, more than double the year-earlier period, according to Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) data.

A gold exporter who buys from Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) told Mining Zimbabwe that while they hold export contracts, selling the gold has become difficult because of the war. The exporter declined to elaborate on how the conflict is affecting transactions, citing commercial sensitivity.

Separately, a gold buyer said liquidity in the industry has dried up.

“Money has not been circulating in the gold industry. We are short of money to buy the gold that is there,” the buyer said.

Analysts say the cash squeeze is linked to the same external disruption. “Of late, there is little circulation of money in the country. Much of the money in circulation comes from gold, so if gold is not being sold, it becomes a problem,” one analyst said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Caledonia Mining Says It Is Not Affected

Not all producers are feeling the impact. Caledonia Mining Corporation, which operates the Blanket Mine in Gwanda, said in its latest report that the Middle East conflict has not affected its operations because the company does not sell to Dubai markets.

Caledonia’s exemption highlights the concentration risk facing Zimbabwe’s gold sector: much of the country’s gold exports are channelled through Dubai, making them vulnerable to shifts in that hub’s financial or regulatory environment.

The Reserve Bank and Fidelity Gold Refinery did not immediately respond to requests for comment on how the conflict may be affecting payment channels or export flows.

The ZNCC’s submission suggests that while record gold prices and strong production have boosted Zimbabwe’s foreign currency earnings, geopolitical shocks could still disrupt the flow of those revenues. With the 50-tonne annual target within reach, industry players are watching the Middle East situation closely for any further tightening of financial systems or compliance requirements.

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