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In a nation rich with mineral wealth, the story of Zimbabwe’s gemstones is no longer one of hidden potential and missed opportunities, but a celebrated narrative of empowerment, inclusion, and visionary partnership, thanks to the transformative Fair, Green and Global (FGG) project, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Implemented by the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation (ZELO) in partnership with ActionAid Zimbabwe, this initiative has successfully turned an overlooked and informal subsector into a beacon of sustainable and community-centric development, leaving a legacy that will resonate for generations.

The profound impact of this collaboration was palpable at a recent project closure and documentary dissemination event held during the Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba (ZAMI), where partners and beneficiaries alike gathered to celebrate a journey that has redefined the very fabric of artisanal gemstone mining.

The success of the FGG project was driven by the dedicated leadership of two key individuals: Fadzai Midzi, the point person from the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation (ZELO), and Darlington Chidarara, the lead from ActionAid Zimbabwe. Their synergistic partnership provided the strategic direction and grassroots momentum needed to turn an ambitious vision into a tangible reality.

Reflecting on the journey with a sense of proud accomplishment, Fadzai Midzi of ZELO stood before the audience and painted a picture of the sector’s remarkable metamorphosis. “When we embarked on this journey with ActionAid in 2021, our gemstone sector was shrouded in silence,” Midzi shared, her voice reflecting the weight and joy of the milestone. “It was an invisible world, operating on the margins. Today, our hearts are full. We now have a strong, vibrant gemstone association and a growing national conversation that puts value addition and community benefits at the forefront. This project was never just about minerals; it was about people. It was about giving miners and communities the knowledge to protect their interests, the confidence to raise their voices, and the practical tools to advocate for a future where mining truly benefits everyone.”

This sentiment was echoed by the project’s core vision, which Darlington Chidarara of ActionAid helped shape—a five-year commitment to ensuring that marginalised groups, particularly women and youth, could claim their space in mining value chains and trade, firmly grounded in the unwavering principles of human rights, gender equality, and a just energy transition.

Breaking the Silence: A New Dawn for Dialogue in Mutoko

The project’s most dramatic transformation unfolded in Mutoko District, a region blessed with abundant gemstone deposits but long stifled by a culture of secrecy and limited oversight. Zephania Nhidza of the Mutoko Rural District Council provided a powerful testimony to the change in atmosphere.

“Before ZELO and ActionAid came to us, gemstone mining was a closed book,” Nhidza explained. “Miners would operate in isolation, with no dialogue, no royalty agreements, and no thought for community development. It was considered a forbidden topic, often controlled by powerful interests. But when Fadzai, Darlington, and their teams engaged us, we decided to believe in a new possibility. We saw miners we never thought would sit at a table with us come forward and engage. They broke the silence with us. This was the crack that let the light in, paving the way for transparency and ensuring that the wealth from our land could finally begin to benefit the people of our community.”

Empowering the Excluded: Women and Youth Take Center Stage

A defining triumph of the FGG project has been its unwavering focus on elevating women and youth, transforming them from sidelined observers into central actors in the gemstone narrative. The formation of the Women in Gemstone Association of Zimbabwe (WIGAZ) provided a united platform for women to organise, train, and boldly showcase their craftsmanship.

Stellia Phiri, a member of WIGAZ, beamed as she recounted her experience. “Through our association, we found our collective voice,” Phiri said. “We learned, we grew, and we even travelled to other countries to exhibit our beautiful stones. It was more than a trip; it was an affirmation that our work has value on a global stage.”

Blessing Hungwe of the Zimbabwe Women in Mining Association (ZAWIMA) highlighted how the project, under Chidarara and Midzi’s guidance, demystified the market. “I knew where the gemstones were in Hurungwe, but I never knew how to make them profitable,” Hungwe shared. “This lack of knowledge pushed women into other work. The FGG project didn’t just give us tools; it gave us vision. It showed us that through value addition, we could build a future for ourselves right here.”

Building Skills, Building Futures: The Engine of Capacity Development

Understanding that true empowerment requires practical ability, the project, led by Midzi’s team at ZELO, forged critical alliances with institutions like the Zimbabwe School of Mines (ZSM) and the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ).

Paul Machona of ZSM detailed this hands-on approach. “We moved beyond theory,” Machona explained. “We trained women in the art of lapidary—cutting and polishing stones—and then provided a vital incubation phase. This support system, a core part of the project’s design, ensured they were not just skilled but also confident entrepreneurs ready to thrive on their own.”

From Local to Global: Connecting Communities to International Markets

The project’s impact stretched beyond Zimbabwe’s borders, successfully plugging local miners into regional and international value chains. This allowed them to bypass the low returns of raw exports and instead profit from finished, value-added products.

Ruvimbo Kadengu, Secretary-General of WIGAZ, shared her profound personal journey. “My grandfather mined emeralds, and I grew up loving these stones but seeing no future in them,” Kadengu recounted. “Then, through this project, we travelled to Zambia and Nigeria. We saw that gemstones are a multibillion-dollar industry. That knowledge was power. We realised we are not just miners; we are businesswomen. Now, we add value to every stone, and that means more money stays with us, our families, and our communities.”

A Lasting Legacy: Structures for a Sustainable Future

As the FGG project closes, its legacy is secured not in a report, but in the lives changed and the systems built. Mutoko District Development Coordinator Kambaya Isiah praised the model of collaboration. “The partnership between ZELO and ActionAid, facilitated by Midzi and Chidarara, provided a blueprint for how development should work—through coordination and true partnership with government. This model must be replicated.”

Fadzai Midzi concluded with a powerful vision for the future: “This project has woven a new DNA of advocacy and enterprise into our gemstone sector. The structures we built together are strong. They will continue to champion value addition, community benefits, and human rights long after we step aside. The silence has been broken for good, replaced by the vibrant, hopeful sounds of inclusive growth and shared prosperity. That is our lasting gift to Zimbabwe.”

The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion has revised Zimbabwe’s 2025 growth projection to 6.6%, up from the initial 6% outlined in the National Budget, with mining, particularly gold, as one of the major sectors expected to play a key role in driving the economy forward, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

The announcement was made by Minister Mthuli Ncube at the Zimbabwe Economic Development Conference (ZEDCON) 2025 in Bulawayo, running under the theme “Macroeconomic and Sectoral Policies for Broad-Based Economic Transformation.”

This upward revision comes as gold has enjoyed a bullish run on international markets for most of the year, providing strong revenues for the fiscus, while agriculture has rebounded following the drought-induced slowdown of 2024.

Speaking at the conference as he projected growth of 6.6% and a nominal GDP of slightly over US$50 billion, Ncube emphasised that mining and agriculture (tobacco) remain the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economic transformation.

“Zimbabwe stands at a critical juncture. Despite global headwinds, as well as exogenous shocks, including climate change, commodity price fluctuations and energy supply constraints, the resilience of our economy and the strength of our resource endowment give us immense reason for optimism,” Ncube added.

“Economic growth for 2025 is now projected above the original projection of 6% to around 6.6%, with an expected nominal GDP of approximately US$52.3 billion. The higher projection is on account of more-than-anticipated output in the agricultural sector, particularly tobacco, following favourable climatic conditions, and mining sector growth buoyed by high commodity prices, notably gold.”

Meanwhile, data from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) shows that GDP stood at US$45.7 billion in 2024, demonstrating positive economic momentum.

Ncube added that the recovery trajectory will be supported by beneficiation, value addition, and investment in energy infrastructure, which are key to sustaining growth and creating jobs, as he urged the private sector to capitalise on renewable energy projects to expand production capacity and attract fresh investment.

The mining sector, while a key driver of growth, continues to face challenges around policy consistency, high operational costs, and multiple taxes and levies, according to the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe.

The industry body has repeatedly called for streamlined licensing, predictable fiscal policies, and affordable energy tariffs to enhance competitiveness and attract investment into this critical sector.

In a positive development, Ncube added that the government is currently undertaking an exercise to enhance the ease of doing business through cost reductions, among other measures.

“In line with our commitment to foster a more enabling business climate, the Government is undertaking a comprehensive exercise to reduce the cost of doing business and enhance competitiveness. This includes systematically cutting levies, fees and charges across all sectors in order to encourage efficiency, productivity and growth. The goal is to cut red tape, eliminate overlapping charges and create a more enabling environment for investment and business expansion,” Ncube said.

The Minister also encouraged stakeholders to submit policy proposals towards the crafting of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and to leverage opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to grow exports and integrate Zimbabwe more deeply into regional and global value chains.

Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the pivotal role of the next generation of engineers were the key issues raised at the recent annual symposium hosted by the Zimbabwe National Institute of Rock Engineering (ZINIRE) at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Victoria Falls on Friday, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

The event, which served as a critical nexus for industry veterans, suppliers, and academia, was overwhelmingly defined by a palpable shift towards digitalisation, driven by the innovative contributions of young professionals.

The consensus among leadership and attendees was clear: the future of Zimbabwean mining is being written in code and algorithms, and it is the country’s emerging talent that is leading this technological revolution to solve perennial challenges like rock support design and fall-of-ground incidents.

Speaking to Mining Zimbabwe on the sidelines of the symposium, ZINIRE President, Mr. Omberai Mandingaisa, set a tone of profound optimism and acknowledgement for the fresh perspectives brought to the fore and highlighted that the event marked a significant milestone in the industry’s ongoing evolution.

“The involvement of youngsters that are in college, that are our upcoming rock engineers and the future of the mining industry, has been exceptional,” stated Mandingaisa. “They have brought up so many presentations that have to do with applications of AI into rock support, applications of AI into the design of support systems and all the applications of new technology, new state-of-the-art equipment. This has come at a stage where the mining industry in Zimbabwe is being revolutionised.”

This sentiment underscores a strategic pivot. For an industry historically grounded in empirical methods and experience-based judgement, the enthusiastic embrace of data-driven technologies by students and young professionals signals a foundational change in how rock engineering challenges will be approached in the decades to come.

The Technical Imperative of AI and ML in Rock Engineering

The presentations delivered by the young professionals moved beyond theoretical discussion, delving into specific technical applications that are poised to enhance safety and efficiency. The core technical issues addressed revolved around several key areas:

1. AI-Powered Rock Mass Characterisation and Classification: Traditional methods like the Rock Mass Rating (RMR) or Q-system, while effective, involve a degree of subjectivity and are time-consuming. Engineers and service providers presented research on using convolutional neural networks (CNNs)—a class of deep learning algorithms—to analyse digital images and LiDAR point cloud data of rock faces. These systems can be trained to automatically identify discontinuities, joints, fractures, and rock types, calculating parameters such as roughness, persistence, and spacing with superhuman consistency and speed. This leads to a more objective, rapid, and continuous assessment of ground conditions, allowing for real-time adjustments to support plans.

2. Machine Learning for Predictive Analysis of Fall-of-Ground (FOG): This was a recurring and critical theme. Fall of ground remains a primary safety risk in underground mining. Presentations focused on using machine learning models for predictive maintenance and hazard forecasting. By feeding historical and real-time sensor data—from microseismic monitoring systems, stress meters, extensometers, and even drone-based photogrammetry—into algorithms like recurrent neural networks (RNNs) or support vector machines (SVMs), models can learn to identify subtle precursor patterns that human analysts might miss. These systems can then provide early warning signals of impending instability, predicting the probability of a FOG event with a significantly higher lead time, thereby enabling pre-emptive intervention and evacuation.

3. Optimisation of Support System Design: The design of ground support systems, including bolt patterns, shotcrete thickness, and cable bolt density, is a complex engineering problem influenced by a multitude of variables. Young professionals showcased work on using generative design algorithms and reinforcement learning. Instead of a single solution, AI can generate thousands of viable support design options based on desired outcomes (e.g., maximum safety factor, minimal material cost). The algorithm iteratively learns which combinations of parameters are most effective, optimising the design for both safety and economic efficiency in ways that were previously computationally prohibitive.

4. Interoperability and Data Standardisation – The Hidden Challenge: A more nuanced technical issue raised, often implicitly, was the challenge of data infrastructure. For AI/ML models to be effective, they require vast amounts of clean, standardised, and labelled data. A significant hurdle for the industry is the legacy of siloed data systems—where geological data, geotechnical monitoring data, and production data exist in separate formats and databases. Several presentations touched on the need for integrated data platforms and standardised protocols (akin to ISO standards for data exchange in mining) to fully unlock the potential of these advanced analytics tools. This highlights a sophisticated understanding among the youth that the technology is not just about the model itself, but the entire data ecosystem that supports it.

A Platform for Networking, Commerce, and Career Development

The symposium’s value extended beyond pure academia, serving as a vital commercial and professional nexus. Mr. Wayne Mudamburi, President of the Association of Junior Mining Professionals of Zimbabwe, emphasised this multifaceted role.

“The importance of ZINIRE is that it’s giving us a platform to actually network and it’s giving suppliers the platform to present their goods,” Mudamburi noted. “And then the mines can actually choose the best support elements that they want from these suppliers… it’s also giving the young rock engineers an opportunity to showcase themselves.”

This ecosystem is crucial for technological adoption. Suppliers showcasing state-of-the-art equipment—from smart bolts with embedded sensors to advanced drone-based monitoring solutions—provide the tangible tools that make the algorithms useful. The direct interaction between mines (the end-users), suppliers (the tool providers), and young engineers (the innovators and future operators) creates a powerful feedback loop that accelerates the practical implementation of research.

Shaping Minds and Aligning Futures

For the individual attendee, the impact was deeply personal and professional. Ope Muranda, Vice President of the Association of Junior Mining Professionals of Zimbabwe, articulated how the symposium is shaping the career trajectories of young professionals.

“As an individual, I’m gaining knowledge on how important the rock engineering department is to the mining industry as a whole,” Muranda said. “And also it’s helping me in shaping my future and shaping my direction, my thinking, my mind and also trying to align my goals to what I actually want.”

This speaks to the event’s role in not only disseminating knowledge but also in inspiring and focusing the ambitions of the next generation, ensuring the long-term health and innovation capacity of the field.

The Inevitable Future: Embracing the Digital Shift

Perhaps the most powerful takeaway, echoed by Muranda and many others, was the sense of inevitability and urgency surrounding this technological shift.

“The key takeaways from this was basically, there’s no way we are going to run away from artificial intelligence, machine learning, because the world, the future is artificial intelligence. The future in mining is going to be machine learning,” Muranda asserted. “So one way or the other, we need to, we are going to be forced to embrace and adopt machine learning and artificial intelligence… it’s about time that we take it serious and learn to implement it.”

This is no longer a question of if but how quickly the industry can adapt. The ZINIRE symposium demonstrated that Zimbabwe’s young rock engineers are not waiting to be forced; they are actively leading the charge, acquiring the skills, developing the applications, and building the networks necessary to ensure the domestic mining industry is not left behind but is instead at the forefront of this global transformation.

A Confluence of Talent and Technology

The annual ZINIRE symposium successfully illuminated the path forward for rock engineering in Zimbabwe. It was a powerful demonstration that the industry’s future is in capable hands. The fusion of youthful innovation with cutting-edge technology like AI and ML is creating a new paradigm for mine safety and efficiency.

As President Mandingaisa concluded, the goal is to “manage fall of ground” and other critical challenges. With the passion displayed by the young professionals and the powerful tools they are mastering, the symposium made it clear that this goal is increasingly within reach. The event was not merely a conference but a declaration: a new, digital era for Zimbabwean mining has begun, and its architects are already hard at work.

With informalisation remaining high and funding access limited, partnerships between the government, financial institutions, and the private sector have been identified as key to the formalisation of women in ASM as well as expanding their access to finance, Mining Zimbabwe reports.

By Ryan Chigoche

This was one of the key takeaways at the ongoing Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) Gender Equality and Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Capacity Building and Strategy Workshop, where several SADC women in mining associations gathered to chart a way forward towards a formalised, gender-inclusive ASM sector.

Over the years, women in ASM and other marginalised groups have struggled to access funding from financial institutions. This is largely because banks often lack knowledge of how ASM permitting and revenue cycles work, resulting in loans that are not tailored for the industry. At the same time, women miners may not fully understand the benefits of formalisation, limiting their ability to qualify for financing and expand operations.

Faced with this challenge, IGF Senior Policy Advisor Ege Tekinbas, in an interview with Mining Zimbabwe, urged governments, financial institutions, and large-scale mining (LSM) companies to work together to improve access to finance for women in ASM in Zimbabwe and across the SADC region.

“We believe that there could be some collaboration, some programs that could help realising these policies, implementing these policies through also infrastructure and support from LSM. If the dialogue can be enhanced between those three different types of stakeholders, they can better understand, women miners can understand the financial instruments better, they can understand better how women are struggling to access those instruments, and the government stakeholders can also understand how to better work across those three different groups of people,” Tekinbas said.

Strengthening partnerships between governments, financial institutions, and LSM companies is seen as a key solution, not only to expand financing options but also to provide infrastructure, mentorship, and technical support that enable women miners to formalise operations and improve productivity.

Beyond financing, the IGF, which supports 68 member countries, including Zimbabwe, also highlighted other challenges, including limited technical training, gaps in data collection, and insufficient government support for capacity-building programs.

Adding to that, other key issues identified were restrictive cultural norms and beliefs that limit women’s participation, and complex formalisation requirements that make it difficult to operate legally.

Gender-based violence in ASM was also flagged as a critical concern, highlighting the need for coordinated action across stakeholders.

The IGF Zimbabwe workshop is expected to feed into a regional policy framework, or “white paper,” aimed at promoting more equitable participation of women in ASM.

In Zimbabwe, women make up roughly 10–15% of the ASM workforce, with higher participation in some SADC countries.