Mining ZimbabweLatest Mining News, Policy and Industry Updates

Matabeleland South-based Thuma First Mining Association is advocating for a fundamental shift in the mining supply chain: unwavering accountability from equipment suppliers, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

For the association’s members, this is not merely a commercial grievance but a critical pillar for achieving sustainable growth, protecting livelihoods and unlocking the nation’s vast mineral potential.

Michael Querl, Managing Director of ABJ Engineering and a supplier member of Thuma First, paints a stark picture of the current crisis.

“A lot of miners are buying equipment, being told it can do a certain tonnage, and when they get the equipment and get it running, it does a quarter of what it should be doing,” he states.

The consequence is devastating. A miner, having secured a loan based on projected production figures, finds himself unable to repay, his business plan rendered obsolete by inferior machinery.

“Now that poor person… is done,” Querl emphasises, highlighting the human cost behind the technical failure. This cycle of underperformance erodes capital, crushes entrepreneurial spirit and traps miners in a debt spiral instead of lifting them towards prosperity.

Echoing and expanding on this, Thuma First Coordinator Alusha Lumbi underscores the systemic nature of the problem. He identifies a flood of “not so good equipment” entering the market, with suppliers—often of foreign origin—engaging in deliberate misrepresentation. “They tend to lie about the capabilities of their equipment,” Lumbi asserts. This isn’t just about optimistic estimates; it’s about a predatory practice that targets a critical sector. Miners, operating on tight margins and with immense hope, are losing massively—not just in potential revenue, but in wasted time, squandered resources and broken trust. This deception stifles growth at the very foundation of the mining ecosystem, where small- and medium-scale operations are meant to thrive.

The solution demanded by Thuma First is straightforward but transformative: enforceable guarantees and rigorous accountability. “All we’re asking is that, one, they put a guarantee on their stuff; two, be held accountable,” Querl explains. He uses the simple analogy of a car sold with a specific fuel efficiency; the buyer rightly expects that promise to be honoured. The mining industry should be no different. When a supplier claims a plant can process 20 tonnes a day, that figure must be a contractual benchmark, not a marketing fantasy. This transparency allows miners to plan, invest and build sustainably. “We’re willing to pay; nobody’s asking for freebies,” Querl clarifies. “But so long as it’s done and accountable.”

This call for accountability is inextricably linked to Zimbabwe’s national destiny. The government’s 2030 vision rests heavily on the efficient extraction of the country’s vast mineral wealth. “If we have the proper equipment in our mines… we can do the job,” Querl argues. Conversely, substandard tools sabotage the entire chain—from the individual miner’s income to national production targets. “If we’re given equipment that can’t do the work, we’re in trouble.” The path to achieving this vision, therefore, is paved with reliable machinery. The nation has the minerals; its people have the will. What is needed now are the right tools, backed by honest partnerships.

Thuma First’s advocacy is a crucial intervention. It moves the conversation beyond complaining about poor quality to demanding a new ethic of responsibility in the supply chain. It protects the most vulnerable in the sector, empowers miners with the certainty they need to grow and aligns commercial transactions with the broader national project. For Zimbabwe’s mining sector to truly be an engine of economic liberation and individual prosperity, the era of empty promises must end. The message from the ground is clear: supply us honestly, stand by your products, and let us build the future together, accountably. The 2030 vision depends on it.

London-listed Premier African Minerals Limited has raised £1 million (approximately US$1.25 million) through a heavily dilutive share subscription, as the company intensifies efforts to unlock commercial production at its Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project in Fort Rixon, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

The funding, announced this week, comes as Premier continues to grapple with operational delays at Zulu and rising creditor pressures, prompting a renewed focus on installing a secondary flotation plant, viewed by management as critical to achieving acceptable production grades and recoveries.

Premier issued 3.33 billion new ordinary shares at an issue price of 0.03 pence per share to raise the £1 million before expenses. In addition, the company settled approximately £140,000 in outstanding supplier invoices and accrued but unpaid salaries owed to former directors and consultants through the issuance of a further 493 million shares at the same price.

In total, 3.83 billion new shares have been issued, increasing Premier’s issued share capital to more than 13.3 billion ordinary shares.

The settlement of liabilities through equity underscores the company’s tight cash position, with share-based settlements increasingly being used to manage creditors while preserving limited working capital.

According to Premier, the primary purpose of the fundraising is to complete the purchase of a 15–20 tonne-per-hour flotation cell plant manufactured by Xinhai Technology Processing EPC. The new plant is expected to supplement the existing processing circuit and provide what management describes as the “shortest possible” route to commercial production.

The company has repeatedly acknowledged in prior regulatory updates that the original flotation plant has struggled to deliver consistent product at the required grade and tonnage, despite prolonged optimisation, engineering audits and OEM-led modifications.

Managing Director Graham Hill said the funding would allow Premier to advance installation of the Xinhai plant while continuing to meet essential operating costs at Zulu.

“I am confident this will provide Zulu with the opportunity to progress to commercial production in the shortest possible time,” Hill said.

Beyond plant acquisition, Premier stated that part of the proceeds will be used to fund operating expenses at Zulu and manage essential creditors. This follows a series of recent disclosures relating to creditor negotiations, including a structured settlement agreement with J.R. Goddard Contracting after enforcement action was initiated at the Zulu site.

The reliance on equity to settle both trade creditors and legacy director remuneration highlights ongoing balance sheet stress, even as the company works to stabilise operations.

While the fundraising provides near-term breathing room, it comes at the cost of significant dilution to existing shareholders. The issue price of 0.03 pence represents a deep discount relative to historical trading levels, reflecting both market scepticism and the urgency of Premier’s funding needs.

Admission of the new shares to trading on AIM is expected on or around 27 January 2026.

Premier maintains that Zulu’s underlying fundamentals remain strong, citing its compliant mineral resource, infrastructure access and proximity to export markets. However, the project’s success now hinges on whether the newly acquired flotation plant can finally convert geological potential into sustained commercial output.

For investors, the coming months will be critical as Premier attempts to move beyond repeated funding rounds and commissioning updates towards stable production and revenue generation.

With severe flooding now paralysing communities across Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) President Ms Henrietta Rushwaya has issued a new and critical warning, stating that the saturated conditions present an immediate, nationwide threat to mining safety, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Her urgent call reframes the ongoing rainy season as an active disaster, underscored by the tragic mine collapse in Filabusi that trapped three people.

“The genius required now is in recognizing that we have moved past forecasts and into a full-blown emergency,” Ms Rushwaya stated. “Our rivers are overflowing, our soils are waterlogged from Beitbridge to Chimanimani, and every mining shaft in a low-lying area is in imminent danger. This is no longer about seasonal caution; this is about urgent, life-saving action. Water is actively seeking out and undermining workings across the country.”

The scale of the current flooding is severe, turning rainfall into a widespread hazard. Major waterways have burst their banks, and consistent downpours have created uniquely dangerous conditions for mining:

• Active Shaft Flooding: Water is flowing into underground excavations at an alarming rate, driven by high water tables and surface runoff.

• Critical Ground Instability: The integrity of mine walls and tunnels has been compromised nationally, raising the risk of sudden collapses.

• Hampered Emergency Response: Flooded access roads are isolating mining sites, delaying rescue operations and aid, as seen in Filabusi.

Echoing the urgency, a member of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development, Hon. Jonah Nyevera, issued a direct warning to the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) sector, which is particularly vulnerable.

“This is a direct instruction. If you are an artisanal miner, you must try to cease operations immediately,” Hon. Nyevera asserted. “The flooding Ms Rushwaya describes is real and present. The tragedy in Filabusi, where a life above ground was also lost, proves the danger is unconfined. Do not approach flooded shafts, avoid all riverine claims, and prioritize your life over ore. Wait for official clearance that the conditions have safely passed.”

The accident at Hebenia Mine on 17 January serves as a devastating example of the current risks. A shaft approximately 11 metres deep collapsed, trapping two miners. In a heartbreaking turn, the wife of one miner was also engulfed when she rushed toward the shaft as the ground failed. This incident highlights the compounded dangers of operating in saturated ground and the rapid, unpredictable nature of these failures.

The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development has long emphasised rainy season safety. However, the current extreme flooding necessitates a shift from standard precaution to emergency response.

Moving forward, the crisis underscores the need for:

1. Immediate Safety Moratoriums: Enforced stoppages in all high-risk and flooded areas.

2. Enhanced Emergency Coordination: Ensuring rescue teams can access isolated communities and mining sites.

3. Community Risk Communication: Direct and clear dissemination of warnings to mining communities about the specific, elevated dangers.

As rains continue, the urgent warnings from Ms Rushwaya and Hon. Nyevera frame a critical choice for the mining sector: to recognise the unprecedented scale of the flood danger and act decisively to protect life above all else. The nation’s focus remains on the rescue efforts in Filabusi and the safety of all miners during this perilous time.

Copper prices have surged roughly 50% over the past year, topping US$13,000 per metric tonne on the London Metal Exchange, well above the US$11,000 level typically needed to justify new mine development, Mining Zimbabwe reports.

By Ryan Chigoche

But analysts caution that the rally may be losing momentum. Goldman Sachs’ base metals team predicts an 18% correction by the end of 2026, pointing to a growing supply surplus. According to the bank, much of the rally has been driven by speculative inflows, with over US$30 billion invested in base metals markets last year, more than half of it in copper.

Temporary factors, such as traders stockpiling ahead of potential U.S. tariffs and production disruptions at major mines like Rio Tinto and Freeport-McMoRan, have also pushed prices higher.

Yet higher margins encourage increased recycling, and any rollback of tariff threats could trigger a rapid price drop.

Demand trends add further uncertainty. China still consumes roughly half of global copper, but the mix of usage is shifting. Clean energy and electric vehicles are projected to account for 12% and 9% of global demand by 2030, respectively, while traditional sectors like construction slow down.

These emerging markets remain sensitive to policy changes, meaning any shift in government priorities could dampen demand.

Meanwhile, global data centres are expected to account for only about 1% of copper demand by 2030, according to Wood Mackenzie.

Goldman Sachs also raised its 2026 copper surplus forecast from 160,000 metric tonnes to 300,000, noting that high prices have curbed demand while boosting scrap supply. U.S. stockpiling in 2025, driven by tariff concerns, created a COMEX premium that is expected to fade as tariffs are eased.

What This Means for Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s exposure to copper price swings is currently limited. Unlike major copper-producing nations, the country has little large-scale primary copper mining in operation.

Most production comes as a by-product of platinum, gold, and nickel operations, while standalone copper mines, such as Mhangura and Shackleton, have been inactive for decades due to low prices and resource depletion.

Efforts to revive production, including processing tailings at defunct sites, are underway but remain small in scale.

As a result, any global price correction is unlikely to have a major immediate impact on Zimbabwe’s mining revenues.

However, high and stable copper prices could encourage renewed exploration and investment in the country’s estimated 70-plus copper deposits.

If Zimbabwe can address infrastructure and operational challenges, it could eventually position itself as a supplier to the growing clean energy and electric vehicle markets.