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Zimbabwe’s mining sector is on track to exceed last year’s US$8.6 billion in mineral export earnings after generating approximately US$5.73 billion in exports during the first half of 2026, Mines and Mining Development Minister Hon. Dr Eng. P. Kambamura has revealed.

By Kelvin Sungiso

Addressing the Ministry’s 2026 Mid-Term Strategic Planning Review Workshop in Kadoma on Monday, Kambamura said the strong performance reflects the sector’s growing contribution to the economy but stressed that the Government’s focus is now shifting from increased mineral production to accelerated beneficiation, policy implementation, and responsible mining.

The Minister said mineral exports for the first six months of the year comprised US$2.532 billion marketed through the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) and approximately US$3.2 billion from gold. Excluding gold and silver, mineral exports surged by 84.7 per cent compared to the same period in 2025, marking one of the strongest performances by the sector in recent years.

Gold continued to anchor the industry’s growth, with 21.4 tonnes delivered between January and June. Artisanal and small-scale miners accounted for 14.9 tonnes, representing 70 per cent of total deliveries and reinforcing the sector’s critical role in supporting livelihoods for more than one million Zimbabweans.

While commending the industry’s performance, Kambamura challenged ministry officials to move beyond celebrating production figures and focus on delivering tangible reforms.

“We are not here to defend positions; we are here to improve delivery,” he said, urging officials to address long-standing delays in implementing key policies and processing mining titles.

The Minister acknowledged that several strategic policies remain unlaunched despite having been completed years ago, while backlogs in mining title applications and unresolved disputes continue to affect investor confidence.

He directed departments to convert these outstanding issues into measurable actions before the end of the year.

A major theme of the Minister’s address was beneficiation, which he described as the foundation of Zimbabwe’s industrialisation agenda. He said the country must move beyond exporting raw minerals and intermediate products to manufacturing higher-value products locally.

The Government’s February 2026 ban on the export of unbeneficiated minerals remains central to this strategy. Kambamura highlighted ongoing investments that support the policy, including the integrated steel complex at Manhize, the Arcadia lithium sulphate plant, which exported Zimbabwe’s first locally produced lithium sulphate in April, and additional lithium processing facilities under construction at Kamativi and Sinomine Bikita.

He also announced plans to establish regional beneficiation hubs aligned with mineral endowments, allowing chrome-producing areas to specialise in ferrochrome and chromium alloys, while iron ore regions focus on steel production.

Looking ahead, Kambamura outlined several priorities for the second half of 2026, including finalising amendments to the Mines and Minerals Act, completing the E-Mine Cadastre System to improve transparency in mineral title administration, and launching key policies covering mineral development, beneficiation, and artisanal and small-scale mining.

Formalising the artisanal and small-scale mining sector will also remain a priority, with the Government seeking to improve access to finance, training, safety, environmental compliance, and gold mobilisation while strengthening provincial inspections.

On environmental management, the Minister said stronger enforcement of Environmental Impact Assessment regulations and improved mine rehabilitation are necessary to safeguard communities and ecosystems. He emphasised that mining companies must earn not only legal licences but also the confidence of the communities in which they operate.

Kambamura also signalled a renewed focus on energy minerals after the Government classified coal as a Special Critical Mineral. He said idle coal concessions held for speculative purposes would be repossessed, while investment would be directed towards clean coal technologies, coal-to-liquid fuel projects, coal-bed methane development, and gas exploration in Muzarabani.

To attract investment, Zimbabwe will continue showcasing opportunities at major international mining conferences while prioritising investors who support beneficiation, technology transfer, and responsible mining practices.

The Minister concluded by calling for greater accountability within both the Government and the mining industry, saying efficiency, integrity, and timely decision-making are essential if Zimbabwe is to maximise the value of its mineral resources.

He said the country’s success should ultimately be measured not by the volume of minerals extracted but by the industries established, jobs created, and communities transformed through sustainable mineral development.

BULAWAYO — Zimbabwe’s beneficiation drive has reached a critical stage, with its ability to process more minerals locally now dependent on delivering the power, water and transport infrastructure needed to attract the next wave of investment in value-added processing, the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe has said, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

Speaking at the Mine Entra 2026 Beneficiation and Value Addition Symposium, Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe President Fungai Makoni said the debate had shifted beyond the need for beneficiation itself to the conditions required to make downstream processing globally competitive.

His remarks come at a pivotal stage in Zimbabwe’s beneficiation drive. Over the past few years, the country has made tangible progress in moving up the mineral value chain. In the lithium sector, Huayou Cobalt-owned Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe (PLZ) has become the first producer to export lithium sulphate, marking Zimbabwe’s entry into higher-value battery chemicals, while Bikita Minerals is developing its own lithium sulphate project as producers move beyond spodumene concentrates.

The next milestone is fast approaching.

Lithium producers have until January 2027 to commission lithium sulphate plants under a government directive aimed at deepening value addition in the battery minerals sector.

Authorities have repeatedly maintained that the deadline will not be extended, increasing pressure on miners to accelerate investment in downstream processing and positioning infrastructure as a decisive factor in whether those projects are delivered on time.

Against that backdrop, Makoni said the next phase of beneficiation would depend on creating an operating environment capable of supporting large-scale industrial investment.

“We continue to advocate for an enabling operating environment for beneficiation, supported by competitive energy, water and transport infrastructure, increased local content, and supplier development,” Makoni said.

The Chamber argues that while Zimbabwe has largely settled the policy question around beneficiation, the economics of processing minerals will ultimately be determined by the cost and reliability of the infrastructure supporting those operations. Smelters, refineries and chemical plants require dependable electricity, secure water supplies, efficient transport networks and skilled labour to compete with established processing hubs elsewhere.

Makoni said beneficiation should be viewed as a broader industrialisation strategy capable of boosting exports, creating skilled employment and stimulating manufacturing, rather than simply adding another stage to mining production.

“The true measure of our success depends on the incremental value we derive from these resources. Beneficiation and value addition represent the bridge between mineral wealth and sustained national prosperity.”

To strengthen the investment case, the Chamber is urging the government to designate beneficiation as a Special Economic Zone, arguing that targeted fiscal incentives, alongside greater support for research, innovation and specialised skills development, would improve the viability of capital-intensive processing projects.

The proposal complements remarks made earlier at the symposium by Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura, who said Zimbabwe’s beneficiation ambitions would ultimately depend on attracting long-term “patient capital” capable of financing large-scale processing facilities.

With global competition for critical minerals intensifying and countries increasingly seeking to retain more value from their natural resources, the Chamber believes Zimbabwe has reached a defining moment. The policy direction is largely in place, and investment in downstream processing has begun. The challenge now is whether the country can match those ambitions with competitive infrastructure, long-term capital and an industrial ecosystem capable of producing higher-value mineral chemicals and refined products for global markets.

ZIMBABWE’S gold beneficiation drive is gaining momentum, with Fidelity Gold Refinery positioning itself as a catalyst for transforming the country’s gold sector from a raw mineral exporter to a competitive regional precious metals manufacturing hub, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Fidelity General Manager Peter Magaramombe told delegates at the Mine Entra Beneficiation and Value Addition Symposium that the refinery has taken significant strides in ensuring Zimbabwe exports value rather than raw mineral wealth.

“All gold that is delivered to the national gold refinery is refined from a minimum of 99.5% to a maximum of 99.99% purity, meeting internationally recognised standards,” Magaramombe said.

Integration with Jewellery Manufacturing

Magaramombe announced that, from August 2026, Fidelity will actively participate in jewellery manufacturing through its value addition division, OREX Private Limited, which serves as its jewellery manufacturing arm.

“This integration connects refining directly with downstream manufacturing, enabling the production of both handmade and machine-made jewellery,” he said, emphasising that the company’s success would now be measured “not only by gold refined but by jewellery produced, local jobs supported, domestic sales and value-added exports.”

Key highlights of the OREX facility include the capacity to export up to 3 tonnes of gold jewellery annually, with a monthly manufacturing capacity of approximately 140 kilogrammes.

Silver for Local Jewellers

In a move designed to strengthen Zimbabwe’s domestic jewellery value chain, Magaramombe revealed that silver recovered during the gold refining process is reserved for the local market.

“Silver recovered during the gold refining process is reserved for the local market, supporting local jewellers and strengthening Zimbabwe’s domestic jewellery value chain,” he said.

Formalisation and Enforcement

The Fidelity boss also highlighted the company’s ongoing efforts to formalise the artisanal and small-scale mining sector, which accounts for over 70% of gold deliveries.

“We need to formalise the artisanal and small-scale miners so that every day we know exactly where we are, where the gold is coming from and where it is going,” Magaramombe has previously stated.

To combat gold smuggling—which authorities estimate costs Zimbabwe close to US$2 billion annually—Fidelity launched the Gold Trade Enforcement Unit in 2025, comprising Fidelity staff and Zimbabwe Republic Police officers.

US$5.85 Billion Gold Export Target

Fidelity has revised its annual gold delivery forecast, expecting 45 tonnes by the end of 2025, translating to gold exports worth approximately US$5.85 billion at current prices of US$4,051.61 per ounce.

Looking ahead, the company projects deliveries of 50 tonnes in 2026, representing an 11% increase over the 45 tonnes expected in 2025, assuming an average gold price of US$4,600 per ounce.

“The future of our gold sector will be defined not by the ounces we mine, but by the value we create from them. Every ounce of gold should generate jobs, investment, industrial growth, exports and lasting prosperity for our people,” Magaramombe said.

BULAWAYO – Zimbabwe’s ambition to transform its vast mineral wealth into a manufacturing-led industrial economy will hinge on its ability to attract long-term investment, with Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura arguing that “patient capital” is the missing ingredient in the country’s beneficiation strategy, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

Speaking at the Mine Entra 2026 Beneficiation Symposium, Kambamura said Zimbabwe must move beyond exporting raw minerals and instead build industries that process them into higher-value products, a transition he said requires investors prepared to finance projects over longer time horizons.

“Patient capital must provide the foundation for this transformation,” he said.

The emphasis on long-term financing comes as Zimbabwe intensifies its beneficiation agenda under Kambamura’s leadership. Since assuming office, the minister has consistently placed value addition at the centre of government mining policy, arguing that the country’s mineral wealth should underpin broader industrial development rather than continue generating export earnings primarily from raw or semi-processed minerals.

Mining remains Zimbabwe’s largest export sector, accounting for the bulk of the country’s foreign currency earnings. Yet much of that value is still derived from minerals exported with limited downstream processing, leaving significant economic value to be captured outside the country.

Kambamura’s latest remarks shift the beneficiation debate beyond the policy objective itself to the question of how industrialisation will be financed. Unlike mining projects, which can generate relatively quick returns, downstream processing plants and manufacturing facilities typically require larger upfront investments and longer repayment periods, making access to patient capital essential.

“Zimbabwe must cease to be known principally as a source of mineral deposits. It must be known as a source of metals, chemicals, components, equipment, technology and finished industrial products,” he said.

The minister said the government is seeking to position mining as the foundation of a broader industrial economy by promoting investments that expand domestic manufacturing capacity alongside mineral production.

He said beneficiation would enable Zimbabwe to capture greater value from its mineral resources, diversify exports, create skilled employment and strengthen linkages between mining and other productive sectors of the economy.

Kambamura added that the strategy is intended to position Zimbabwe as a supplier of higher-value mineral products to regional markets through the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Alongside financing, the minister identified technology transfer and industrial infrastructure as critical enablers of beneficiation, saying the government wants investment that builds local productive capacity rather than simply increases mineral extraction.

Realising that ambition, however, will require more than capital alone.

While Zimbabwe possesses some of the world’s largest deposits of platinum, lithium, chrome and other strategic minerals, investors have frequently cited policy uncertainty, foreign exchange constraints, electricity shortages and infrastructure bottlenecks as key obstacles to committing long-term capital. Industry executives have also argued that competitive power tariffs, predictable regulation and improved logistics will be just as important as financing if beneficiation projects are to remain commercially viable.

The financing challenge is substantial. The Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe estimates the mining industry requires approximately US$10 billion in new investment over the next five years to expand production and develop new projects, with significant additional capital likely to be needed to establish downstream processing and manufacturing industries.

Kambamura said the government and industry must therefore work together to attract the investment, technology and industrial expertise needed to build competitive value-added industries.

“Let us transform our mineral resources through technology,” he said. “That is the transformation we seek. That is the prosperity of our mineral resource base, and that is the future we must now build together.”

Whether Zimbabwe succeeds in turning its mineral wealth into an industrial base will ultimately depend not only on its resource endowment but also on its ability to create the stable investment environment needed to attract the long-term capital that beneficiation demands.

A senior executive at Namib Minerals has launched a blistering attack on corrupt practices in the mining industry procurement chain, challenging buyers and suppliers to consider the legacy of their decisions on Zimbabwe’s future, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Mr E. Chivanga, speaking on behalf of Namib Minerals, which operates How Mine near Bulawayo, delivered a frank assessment of miner-supplier relations while announcing major expansion projects and the group’s recent Nasdaq listing.

Mr Chivanga said miner-supplier relationships must be “forged on respect for each other,” acknowledging that the current gold boom has made engagement difficult.

“I heard some say it is difficult to engage miners. It was like you are asking for permission to see a president,” he observed. “It is just natural that when someone is holding money, and you want that money, you also need to try and become humble.”

He acknowledged the financial strain suppliers face, admitting that payment terms often extend beyond the standard 90 days to 120 days.

“You guys are very important, and we cannot look down upon that,” he said.

Nasdaq Listing and Major Projects

Mr Chivanga announced that Namib Minerals has recently listed on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, a development that makes quality standards “non-negotiable.”

“We are self-conscious. We can kill people if we do not have quality items,” he stated, calling on suppliers to adhere to international quality standards.

He also revealed significant expansion plans, including the commissioning of a major project in August and three larger mines in October. The company recently deployed a 600-tonne crane — one of the largest in the country — from Motor Port Shafts to support its operations.

“These are positives, which we would also invite our suppliers to say, you are important, you are strategic to our operation, we need you to come,” he said. “Do not worry about the red chips, we will try to infuse them to come and see us.”

Technology Gap Warning

The executive identified a significant technology gap between Zimbabwean suppliers and global standards.

“I appeal to our suppliers that sometimes we take the role of our suppliers in trying to bridge the gap between what we are supplying and what the industry requires. We are way, way behind in terms of technology,” he warned.

He urged suppliers to “invest in global source engagement, go around, go to other countries, try to check and invest in new technology so that we have proper solutions as far as our mining is concerned.”

Anti-Corruption Challenge

In a passionate closing message, Mr Chivanga cautioned against corrupt practices that undermine the industry’s potential.

“Greed and selfishness. This has got a huge impact on our operations,” he said. “Let us desist from corrupt activities as mining people, which are the mining houses and also suppliers, please. You must not corrupt our people.”

He addressed procurement officers directly:

“Everyone who is a mining buyer in a mining house, your signature has got only two possible outcomes. It is either you are killing your country or you are making your country go far.”

He concluded with a reflective challenge:

“Fifty years from now, where will you be? A country where you will sign your signature. Twenty years signing a signature to kill your country. What is your signature doing to your country?”

Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu has challenged the mining industry to reverse the US$2.5 billion import bill on manufactured goods, describing the current 85% procurement leakage as a “huge opportunity” for industrialisation and job creation, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

US$30 Billion Opportunity

Addressing delegates at the Mine Entra Suppliers and Energy Symposium in Bulawayo, Minister Ndhlovu emphasised that local content must move beyond rhetoric to tangible action if Zimbabwe is to achieve its Vision 2030 of becoming an empowered and prosperous upper-middle-income economy.

Citing economic data showing the manufacturing sector contributing 16.8% to GDP and mining approximately 16%, Minister Ndhlovu projected a combined US$30 billion opportunity if the two sectors forged stronger linkages.

“Currently, we are still around US$16-17 billion combined,” he stated. “A US$30 billion opportunity is a combination of strategic economic synergies that we need to forge together, which we view as an accelerator to Vision 2030.”

The Procurement Challenge

The Minister highlighted that mining industry procurement stands at approximately US$3.4 billion annually, with only about US$410 million being spent on locally manufactured products. This means 85% of the value is leaking to foreign economies.

“For me, this is a huge opportunity because 85% is going somewhere. It’s creating employment opportunities elsewhere,” Ndhlovu said. “Economies there are investing in advanced technologies, and we are importing those technologies. I’m not too sure if we’re investing enough in upgrading those technologies.”

Citing President Mnangagwa’s recent call, he noted that Zimbabwe spends US$2.5 billion on imported manufactured products that could be produced locally.

“Why would we spend so much money outside the country, exporting jobs, exporting technologies, and opportunities in areas where we have the capacity to produce locally?” he questioned.

Digital Platform to Connect Buyers and Suppliers

To address the visibility gap preventing local procurement, Minister Ndhlovu announced that the Ministry, in partnership with Buy Zimbabwe, has developed a digital platform to list locally manufactured products.

“This platform will be available to those who want to procure, to know what products are available, where, who is selling what, and at what price,” he explained. “As that product comes into your production processes, into your mine, if you are buying higher local content thresholds, it also automatically upgrades your local content as a company.”

He added that discussions with Treasury are ongoing to establish appropriate incentives for companies supporting local production.

New Industrial Policy Underway

The Minister revealed that a comprehensive Industrial Development Policy will be launched by President Mnangagwa next Wednesday. The policy features a dedicated pillar on mines and mineral beneficiation, representing what he described as “the first time in a long time we have an industrial development policy that is very elaborate in the linkages between the mining sector and the manufacturing sector.”

Green Energy Transition and Policy Blind Spots

Turning to global shifts, Ndhlovu noted that geopolitical changes—particularly the US leadership transition—have affected the platinum group metals sector by reversing aggressive electric vehicle policies that had hurt catalytic converter demand. He urged Zimbabwe to invest in “industries of the future” rather than passively waiting for global trends.

The Minister also flagged policy blind spots, citing a manufacturer’s concern that importing steel sheets attracts duty, while importing complete hammer mills is duty-free.

“These are blind spots. When we put policies, some of these areas get missed, and we need to have these conversations going forward,” he said.