Mining ZimbabweLatest Mining News, Policy and Industry Updates

AIM-listed mining and exploration junior, Premier African Minerals Limited, has confirmed the resignation of its long-serving Chief Executive Officer, George Roach, and the appointment of mining veteran Graham Hill as an executive director with immediate effect, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

The announcement formalises a transition that began in May 2025 with the termination of Roach’s consultancy agreement and his role as CEO, followed by Hill’s appointment as Managing Director in June. The leadership handover now comes at a critical juncture for Premier, which is struggling with mounting debts while advancing its flagship Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project in Fort Rixon.

For years, Roach was the face of Premier, steering the company through exploration, securing key partnerships, and pushing Zulu into early production. However, his leadership was also clouded by operational delays, ballooning liabilities, and shareholder frustration.

Premier’s precarious finances became a flashpoint earlier this year, with group liabilities swelling beyond US$64 million, including US$46.3 million owed to Canmax Technologies under the offtake and prepayment agreement. Shareholders voiced deep scepticism about Premier’s future, with one commenting: “$10M market cap, $64M debt, impossible for this to end well for shareholders, new or old.” Others questioned the legality of unpaid obligations, including US$17 million in salaries, declaring “the game is truly up.”

Against this backdrop, Roach’s exit marks the end of an era in which he embodied both Premier’s ambition and its instability. Replacing Roach is Graham Hill, 67, a qualified mechanical engineer with over 40 years of mine development and management experience across Africa, Europe, Russia, and Central Asia. Hill previously held senior positions at Anglo American, Oxus Gold, and Axmin, and most recently served as Chief Operating Officer of Adriatic Metals PLC, where he oversaw development of the Vares Project in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Welcoming his appointment, Premier Chairman Godfrey Manhambara said: “Graham has wide experience that has direct relevance to our operations, and we welcome him to the Board.”

Hill is expected to stabilise operations at Zulu, optimise the flotation plant, and rebuild credibility with financiers and shareholders.

The leadership change coincides with a significant financial restructuring. Premier recently confirmed that Canmax Technologies has moved to convert outstanding debts into equity, increasing its stake in the company. The move has been widely interpreted as Canmax tightening its grip on Premier and the Zulu project, cementing its role not only as offtake partner but also as a major shareholder with direct influence over the company’s future.

For some stakeholders, this signals both a lifeline and a loss of autonomy. While Canmax’s conversion eases immediate pressure on Premier’s balance sheet, it underscores how far control has shifted from Harare to Beijing. Shareholders who once placed faith in Roach’s leadership are now looking to Hill to navigate this new reality, balancing operational delivery with the expectations of a dominant partner.

Roach’s exit, Hill’s appointment, and Canmax’s increasing presence together mark a turning point for Premier African Minerals. From a company once defined by its charismatic founder and bold promises, Premier is now under pressure to deliver stability, consistency, and sustainable shareholder value in a market where lithium demand remains strong but investor patience has worn thin.

The next phase will be closely watched by investors, creditors, and Zimbabwe’s mining sector alike: Can Hill stabilise Zulu and restore confidence, or will Premier’s future be further absorbed into Canmax’s strategic ambitions?

(Geneva) – Blessing Hungwe, a Zimbabwean gold miner and industry advocate, used a keynote address at the World Resources Forum to challenge global policymakers and investors to direct capital and formalisation efforts toward women in artisanal mining, a key source of bullion for the southern African nation.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Her call to action coincided with the announcement of a renewed US$100,000 grant from the UK Embassy to the Zimbabwe Association of Women in Mining (ZAWIMA), which Hungwe leads as patron. The funding is targeted at improving health and safety standards for a segment that accounts for a significant portion of Zimbabwe’s gold output but operates largely in the informal economy.

“Sustainable mining cannot afford to overlook ASM. With growing poverty, unemployment, and climate change, the sector presents a lifeline. Women must be supported, not sidelined,” Hungwe told delegates in Geneva, placing the issue on the international agenda.

The artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector is a critical, yet volatile, component of Zimbabwe’s economy. It contributes over 60% of the nation’s annual gold production, a key source of foreign currency, but struggles with regulation, safety, and access to formal finance.

Hungwe, who transitioned from reprocessing ore scraps to operating a mechanised mine, highlighted the systemic barriers. She cited Fidelity Gold Refinery’s loan scheme for women as an example of well-intentioned initiatives hampered by a fundamental lack of tenure security, which prevents women from using mining claims as collateral.

“For many, ASM is the only means of survival, feeding families, paying school fees,” Hungwe said. “But to fully benefit, women miners must be supported with access to claims, finance, skills, equipment, and proper markets.”

The UK grant renewal signals continued international interest in formalising Zimbabwe’s ASM sector to stabilise production and improve environmental and social governance (ESG) standards. The funds will support ZAWIMA initiatives, including a partnership with the International Labour Organisation on a gold milling plant in Guruve and safety training.

A tangible shift is already underway. Hungwe noted that Fidelity Gold Refinery, the state-owned buyer, lowered its delivery threshold for its incentive scheme from 20kg to 0.5kg, a move that directly enables more small-scale women miners to participate.

The push for formalisation comes as President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government seeks to boost mineral exports. Integrating hundreds of thousands of artisanal miners, particularly women, into the regulated economy is seen as essential to mitigating economic instability and unlocking further production growth.

Hungwe’s own story underscores the potential return on investment. She detailed how professionalising her operations, an effort aided by her mining engineer son, quadrupled production, a case study in the efficiency gains possible with greater access to capital and expertise.

The Gwanda Magistrates’ Court has sentenced three individuals, including two women, to four years in prison each following their conviction for armed robbery at Freda Mine, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

The convicted trio were identified as Conilias Ndlovu (36), an unemployed man from Mahoho Village, Mberengwa, Junior Sibanda (18), a woman also from Mahoho Village, Mberengwa, and Renika Takaruva (28), a woman from Manyungu Village, Chief Chipindu, Chivi.

The court heard that on the night of August 10, 2025, the three, along with other accomplices who remain at large, raided the Freda Mine. Ndlovu was armed with a sjambok, while the unidentified accomplices carried an axe and a shovel. During the attack, a miner, who was the complainant, was struck on the head with a shovel before the gang fled the scene.

The stolen property, valued at US$300, included gold ore, a 100-watt solar panel, a small radio, a shovel, and a cellphone.

Police acted swiftly, arresting Ndlovu, Sibanda, and Takaruva. Authorities also managed to recover US$150 worth of the stolen property.

The three have since been jailed, and a manhunt is underway for the other suspects involved in the robbery.

Angola is preparing to change the fuel supply story in Southern Africa. The country’s 30,000 barrel per day Cabinda refinery, its first since independence more than fifty years ago, is expected to start producing fuel before the end of 2025.

By Ryan Chigoche

At the inauguration ceremony, attended by President João Lourenço, Oil and Gas Minister Diamantino Azevedo declared:

“Today we can confirm that the Cabinda refinery is entering its decisive phase and that by the end of the year, Angola will have the first commercial derivatives produced at this unit.”

The refinery is a major breakthrough for Angola, but its significance stretches beyond national borders. As the only oil producer in the 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC), Angola holds the key to reshaping how the region secures its fuel.

For decades, SADC countries have imported the bulk of their refined petroleum from Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

This dependence drains more than US$3 billion every month from African economies into Asia. If member states were to support Angola’s refining capacity and source fuel closer to home, that money could stay within the region, circulating through local economies and building industries instead of enriching foreign markets.

London-based Gemcorp, the main shareholder in the project, says the refinery’s first phase will meet between 5 to 10% of Angola’s fuel demand. A second phase is already planned, which will double output to 60,000 barrels per day and add a hydrocracking unit for diesel and jet fuel production.

Angola’s state owned Sonangol, which owns 10% of the plant, will supply the crude feedstock. Despite being Africa’s second largest oil producer, Angola still imports about 72% of its fuel needs, around 3.3 million metric tonnes annually. The Cabinda refinery is seen as the first step in breaking that cycle.

The impact of such a shift would be especially felt in Zimbabwe. The country has some of the steepest fuel prices in the region, ranking second highest in SADC and fourth in Sub-Saharan Africa. Petrol and diesel currently sell between US$1.55 and US$1.60 per litre, according to the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority.

In 2023, Zimbabwe spent US$1.55 billion on refined fuel imports, its largest single import item. Its biggest suppliers were the Bahamas (US$469M), Singapore (US$413M), and Bahrain (US$325M).

This reliance on faraway markets not only keeps prices high but also exposes Zimbabwe to global shocks. Political tensions in the Gulf, for example, often trigger sudden oil price spikes that ripple through to Harare’s fuel pumps.

Buying from Angola would be different. It could bring prices down, ensure more stable supplies, and protect Zimbabwe from external volatility.

Just as importantly, it would keep money circulating within SADC instead of leaving the continent.

The Cabinda refinery is therefore more than national infrastructure; it is a chance for the region to reset.

With billions of dollars flowing out of SADC every month for imported fuel, the need for cooperation has never been greater. For Angola, this is about becoming Southern Africa’s energy hub.

For the rest of the bloc, Zimbabwe included, it is about whether leaders are ready to trade with one another, lower costs, and build resilience.

This refinery could well be the catalyst for that long overdue shift.

In a move that has left many in the mining community questioning the fairness of Zimbabwe’s judicial system, three Chinese nationals caught red-handed conducting illegal alluvial mining operations in Karoi have been let off with a mere US$200 fine each, while a citizen was sentenced to two years, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

The Chinese trio, Li Taisen (30), Wang Jinyan (57), and Xia Lin (52), appeared before the Karoi Magistrates’ Court on September 2, facing charges of working without valid permits and contravening environmental laws.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the three had established a mining camp and commenced operations along the ecologically sensitive Angwa River in the Dete area between July 25 and 28. They were arrested on July 28 after failing to produce any work permits authorising their activities.

Their punishment? A paltry US$200 fine or two months in prison. For a sector plagued by allegations of favouritism and two-tier justice, this sentence is a slap in the face.

This leniency stands in stark contrast to the fate of Zimbabwean artisanal miners. Just two months ago, a Siakobvu man, Kudakwashe Mapinda, was sentenced to a full two years in prison for the same crime, illegal panning along the Karongwe River. Unlike the Chinese nationals who were operating with machinery, Mapinda was using a simple wooden pan.

The irony is bitter. While a local miner using rudimentary tools gets a harsh prison sentence, foreign nationals with equipment capable of far greater environmental damage get a fine equivalent to a night’s stay at a hotel.

This happens against a backdrop of a government led crackdown on riverbed mining. Cabinet has been unequivocal, stating that alluvial mining has caused “irreversible environmental damage,” destroying major rivers and contributing to the severe siltation crippling dams like Bulawayo’s Umzingwane, which is currently at a critical 2% capacity.

The message from this court ruling might be interpreted painfully by citizens: “There is one law for poor Zimbabweans trying to scrape a living and another for foreign nationals.” This interpretation by citizens might undermine the fight against environmental degradation and make a mockery of justice in our nation’s mining sector.

Questions from the general public are, how long will our rivers be plundered by well-connected operators while the small man bears the full brunt of the law?

Angola has officially launched the first phase of its long-awaited Cabinda oil refinery, with initial production scheduled to begin by the end of 2025, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

The move marks a critical first step in the country’s ambitious strategy to curb gasoline imports, ensure domestic fuel security, and position itself as a key supplier for the energy-strapped nations of Southern Africa.

The Cabinda Refinery, a 60,000 barrel per day (bpd) facility, is being developed in phases by Gemcorp Holdings. The initial phase will focus on producing diesel, heavy fuel oil, and naphtha. This is a cornerstone of the Angolan government’s broader Refining and Fuel Storage Expansion Strategy, managed by the Institute for the Regulation of Petroleum Derivatives (IRDP).

“The launch of the Cabinda refinery is not just an Angolan project; it is a strategic investment for the entire region,” said Patricio Vilar, CEO of IRDP, speaking at the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2025 conference. “Our goal is to achieve surplus production for export, directly addressing the fuel supply challenges faced by our landlocked neighbours.”

Angola, Africa’s second-largest crude oil producer, has historically exported its crude only to spend billions of dollars importing refined petroleum products due to a lack of domestic refining capacity. This new refining push, which also includes the recently upgraded Luanda Refinery and the upcoming Lobito Refinery, aims to reverse that dynamic.

For Southern Africa, the implications are significant:

1. Energy Security for Landlocked Nations: Countries like Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) rely heavily on road and rail imports of fuel from South Africa, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Angolan refined products, shipped via the port of Lobito or through existing pipelines, would provide a crucial and competitive alternative, diversifying supply chains and reducing regional dependency on a few routes.

2. Economic Integration and Trade: Angola’s shift to a net fuel exporter would create new trade corridors. The operational Benguela Railway, which runs from Lobito to the DRC border, is poised to become a vital artery for distributing refined fuels into the continental interior, boosting regional integration and reducing overall logistics costs.

3. Stabilising Prices and Supply: Regional refining capacity helps mitigate the impact of global oil price volatility and supply disruptions. A local source of diesel, critical for mining, agriculture, and transport, could lead to greater price stability and reliability for key industries across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) bloc.

At the AOG 2025 conference, the IRDP outlined a comprehensive master plan that extends beyond Cabinda. The strategy encompasses:

· Luanda Refinery: Recently expanded to 1,200,000 litres/day of diesel and 700,000 litres/day of gasoline.
· Lobito Refinery: A planned 200,000 bpd facility that would be the largest in the country, squarely aimed at the export market.
· Expanded Storage: Development of new and expanded fuel storage terminals across Angola to ensure buffer stocks for domestic and regional demand.

The Cabinda refinery’s initial output will first serve to meet acute domestic shortages in the enclave region before contributing to the national grid. However, analysts note that the full commissioning of Angola’s refinery pipeline is the key to unlocking its potential as a major regional energy hub, fundamentally altering the fuel supply dynamics of Southern Africa.

AIM-listed mining and exploration junior Premier African Minerals Limited has confirmed the issuance of 1,184,253,059 new ordinary shares to its strategic partner, Canmax Technologies Co., Ltd, following Canmax’s election to convert accrued interest of approximately US$368,000 under their existing Restated and Amended Offtake and Prepayment Agreement, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

The conversion, announced on Tuesday, was executed at an issue price of 0.023 pence per share, identical to the direct subscription price Premier disclosed on 21 August 2025. The new shares, which will be admitted to trading on AIM around 8 September, will rank pari passu with the company’s existing ordinary shares. Following this transaction, Premier’s issued share capital now stands at 84,859,029,039 ordinary shares.

The Canmax–Premier relationship dates back to August 2022, when the two companies entered into a prepayment and offtake agreement valued at approximately US$34.7 million. Under that deal, Canmax agreed to provide funding for the construction and commissioning of Premier’s flagship Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project in Fort Rixon, Zimbabwe, in exchange for exclusive offtake rights to spodumene concentrate produced at the mine.

However, commissioning delays and plant performance issues at Zulu in 2023 strained the partnership, culminating in Canmax issuing notices of default. After months of negotiations, the parties reached a settlement and restructuring agreement in December 2024, which included provisions allowing Canmax to convert accrued interest into equity.

That addendum stabilised the relationship and reaffirmed Canmax’s commitment to Zulu, while providing Premier with vital breathing space to optimise the plant and move closer to commercial production.

By converting interest into equity rather than demanding cash repayment, Canmax has signalled continued confidence in Premier’s long-term prospects. For Premier, the move helps conserve much-needed cash as it focuses on optimising its large-scale spodumene flotation plant, which is one of the most advanced lithium processing facilities in Africa.

The company recently confirmed that its operational review indicated no major design changes are required at Zulu, and tests underway with supplier Enprotec are expected to guide an optimised restart. Premier is targeting spodumene production costs of around US$500 per ton but has acknowledged that additional funding will be required to resume operations later in September.

The latest share issue further cements Canmax as one of Premier’s largest shareholders and underscores its role as both financier and offtake partner. As Zimbabwe positions itself as a critical supplier of lithium for the global energy transition, the partnership between Premier and Canmax remains pivotal to unlocking Zulu’s full potential.