Mining ZimbabweLatest Mining News, Policy and Industry Updates

In a dramatic interception that has sent shockwaves through Zimbabwe’s mining sector, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers at Forbes Border Post have foiled an audacious lithium smuggling attempt, arresting a suspect on the spot after he allegedly offered a US$1,500 bribe to secure passage for three haulage trucks laden with lithium concentrate bound for Mozambique, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

The incident, recorded under case reference Mutare Central CR 107/26, represents one of the most brazen attempts to flout the government’s raw mineral export ban since its enforcement in February 2026.

According to an official sworn statement by Constable Dumby Samuel, the accused, Brian Sekombe, allegedly approached Assistant Inspector Chiniva and offered a bundle of US$100 notes, totalling US$1,500, in exchange for free passage of the trucks through the border post.

Police officers immediately took action, counting the cash, recording the serial numbers for evidence, and placing Sekombe under arrest.

“The accused person handed over the money and was informed he was under arrest for bribery,” Constable Samuel stated in his sworn deposition.

The suspect now faces prosecution under Zimbabwe’s anti-corruption laws, with authorities treating the case as a warning to would-be smugglers attempting to circumvent the country’s beneficiation drive.

The three trucks intercepted at the border are operated by Sadie Motors, a Zimbabwean transport and haulage company that contracts with various mining and logistics firms across the region.

While Sadie Motors’ specific contracting arrangements remain subject to ongoing investigations, the company’s involvement points to the growing complexity of smuggling networks operating along Zimbabwe’s eastern border. Sources indicate the trucks were contracted to ferry the lithium concentrate to designated recipients in Mozambique, highlighting how transport operators have become unwitting or, in some cases, complicit participants in the illicit mineral trade.

Mining Zimbabwe understands that investigators are now probing the contracting chain to determine who commissioned the haulage and whether Sadie Motors was knowingly involved in the smuggling operation or was contracted under false pretences.

This mirrors similar cases in which transporters have been deceived by fraudulent documentation. In a separate incident, Mugwazi Transport Company lost a US$30,000 truck after a foreign national falsely claimed he was transporting chrome but instead loaded lithium quartz.

Authorities Tighten Grip

The seizure comes as border enforcement at strategic posts such as Forbes has been significantly ramped up following the government’s ban on raw lithium exports, part of broader efforts to curb illicit mineral outflows and promote domestic beneficiation.

Recent data underscores why Zimbabwe is taking such a hard line. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, lithium exports generated US$178.6 million, a staggering 106% increase in value with virtually no volume growth, proving that beneficiation, not raw extraction, is the path to prosperity.

The government has since classified 14 minerals as “critical” and banned the export of all raw or unbeneficiated forms, with mandatory state shareholding through Special Purpose Vehicles now enshrined in law.

Mines and Mining Development Minister Dr. Polite Kambamura has been unequivocal: “The era of shipping raw rock for marginal returns is over.”

A Pattern of Smuggling at Forbes

The Sadie Motors interception is not an isolated incident. Forbes Border Post has emerged as a primary corridor for lithium smuggling syndicates.

In July 2026, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and ZIMRA uncovered an alleged smuggling syndicate involving a Harare businesswoman who conspired with a clearing agent and a foreign national to illegally export lithium ore through Forbes. The syndicate had allegedly cloned an expired export permit from Bikita Minerals to facilitate the smuggling of approximately 204 tonnes of lithium ore valued at US$100,000.

Additionally, two foreign nationals appeared in court in June 2026 accused of smuggling thousands of tonnes of minerals, including lithium, chrome, and copper, through Forbes by falsifying declarations and conniving with officials.

Cash-strapped lithium developer halts operations until strategic partner approves revised terms for US$46 million prepayment agreement

Premier African Minerals Ltd. has pushed back the planned restart of its Zulu lithium plant beyond July, saying it will not resume operations until concluding “constructive” but protracted negotiations with Chinese strategic partner Canmax Technologies Co. over extending a critical repayment deadline, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

The London-listed developer had previously targeted July for recommencing a 30-day continuous operating campaign at the Fort Rixon project, following a truncated June commissioning run that delivered encouraging concentrate grades of up to 5.58% Li₂O. However, the company now says it will wait for a formal agreement with Canmax before restarting the plant.

“Subject to agreement being reached, Premier intends to commence the planned continuous operating campaign as soon as possible, with a revised operating timetable to be confirmed thereafter,” Managing Director Graham Hill said in a statement.

Technical Fixes Implemented

During June’s processing operations, the engineering team identified several opportunities to improve plant operability and reliability, which have since been addressed through modifications, upgrades, and regular maintenance. Mining and stockpiling activities remain ongoing at a reduced scale.

The company maintains that building adequate ore inventories on the run-of-mine pad before recommencing operations represents “the most efficient use of available resources” and will maximize value from the next optimisation campaign.

Canmax Negotiations Intensify

The extended timeline reflects ongoing discussions with Canmax over a further extension of the Long Stop Date under the August 2023 prepayment and offtake agreement. Under the deal, Premier committed to supplying spodumene concentrate to Canmax in exchange for upfront funding that now totals approximately US$46 million.

The Long Stop Date is the deadline by which Premier must deliver sufficient SC6 concentrate or provide a cash settlement to repay Canmax’s advance. The most recent extension expired on June 30, with negotiations continuing.

Canmax is currently reviewing the latest operational and commissioning data from the upgraded flotation circuit. While Premier says it remains “confident that a positive outcome can be achieved,” the company cautioned that there can be no guarantee an extension will be agreed upon or on what terms.

Strategic Implications

The proposed extension, alongside the successful completion of the next production and optimisation campaign, would represent “an important step in demonstrating sustained plant performance and supporting the Company’s ongoing engagement with potential strategic investors” for Zulu’s continued development.

Premier’s auditor, MAH Chartered Accountants, has expressed “significant doubt” about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern, highlighting the critical importance of securing additional financing.

The company’s shares have fallen approximately 93% over the past 52 weeks. Premier’s audited accounts for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, have been published but remain subject to auditor sign-off and consideration of the ongoing Canmax discussions.

Young miners will use Mine Entra 2026 to pursue technology, investment, and strategic partnerships that support value addition, formalisation, and safer mining as they seek to position themselves as a new generation of competitive mining entrepreneurs, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

The Young Miners Foundation (YMF) said its members will use Zimbabwe’s flagship mining exhibition, which runs from July 29 to 31 at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo, to engage equipment suppliers, financiers, policymakers, and industry leaders while exploring opportunities to modernise their operations and strengthen their participation across the mining value chain.

Speaking to Mining Zimbabwe ahead of Mine Entra 2026, YMF Chief Executive Officer Payne Kupfuwa said the exhibition presents a rare opportunity for emerging miners to build partnerships that can help transform youth-led mining enterprises into sustainable and competitive businesses.

“At Mine Entra 2026, Young Miners will fully participate by networking and attending conferences,” said Kupfuwa.

He said the foundation’s participation is driven by a broader ambition to move young miners beyond the traditional role of mineral extraction and towards building modern mining businesses supported by technology, skills development, efficient equipment, and access to capital.

“YMF members will be looking for partnerships that go beyond extracting minerals. We seek technology, training, efficient equipment, and capital that will help us become 21st-century young mineral magnates,” he said.

Kupfuwa said such partnerships are essential if young miners are to move further up the mining value chain through beneficiation and value addition, ensuring Zimbabwe’s mineral wealth creates lasting economic opportunities long after the resources have been extracted.

“Our future is not only underground; it is in innovation and in the value addition and beneficiation of our minerals. This value will stay in our communities long after the mines close,” he said.

The foundation’s aspirations come as Zimbabwe continues to prioritise mineral beneficiation and the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining as part of efforts to maximise value from its mineral resources. However, limited access to affordable finance, modern mining equipment, and technical expertise continues to constrain many emerging miners, making platforms such as Mine Entra increasingly important for building commercial partnerships.

Against this backdrop, Kupfuwa said formalisation remains central to the foundation’s agenda, not only to improve operational standards but also to strengthen the confidence of investors and financial institutions.

“As we continue to formalise and professionalise our mining operations, we look forward to securing meaningful investment and soft lending opportunities from financial institutions,” he said.

Beyond attracting capital, the foundation intends to use the exhibition to exchange knowledge on safer mining practices, environmental stewardship, and responsible mining methods that align with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles.

“We look forward to sharing and exchanging notes on safe mining methods, health, and environmental sensitivity as we conform to ESG principles,” Kupfuwa said.

He said Mine Entra would also provide an opportunity for young miners to engage directly with policymakers and industry leaders on regulatory developments affecting the sector while identifying practical strategies to improve productivity, safety, and long-term sustainability.

“Young Miners will be navigating strategies and ideas to mine safer, smarter, and more sustainably. We seek value beyond the ore,” he said.

Kupfuwa said the foundation also hopes to contribute to policy discussions shaping Zimbabwe’s mining industry, ensuring the perspectives of young miners are reflected as the sector evolves.

“We seek insights into the latest policy changes and aim to contribute to policy development as we interact with policymakers and key players in the mining industry,” he said.

For the Young Miners Foundation, success at Mine Entra will not be measured by attendance alone but by the partnerships, investment opportunities, and knowledge gained to help build a new generation of formally structured, investment-ready mining businesses.

“Mine Entra must be more than an exhibition; it must be a launchpad for the next generation of miners,” Kupfuwa said.

Blanket Mine (1983) (Private) Limited, a subsidiary of Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc, has made a further dividend payment of US$1.8 million to the Gwanda Community Share Ownership Trust (GCSOT), reinforcing what has become one of Zimbabwe’s most enduring and tangible examples of mineral wealth benefiting host communities, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

This latest disbursement, confirmed by the mine on Monday, brings the total cumulative contributions from Blanket Mine to the Trust since its establishment in 2012 to approximately US$16.4 million. The Trust holds a 10% shareholding in the mine under a government-initiated community empowerment framework.

Commenting on the payment, Elton Gwatidzo, General Manager of Blanket Mine, said the relationship between the mine and the Trust remains an important example of how mining can create lasting benefits beyond the mine boundary.

“We are proud of this long-standing partnership and remain committed to ensuring that the success of Blanket Mine continues to deliver value for the communities that host our operations,” Gwatidzo said.

The dividend payments are not discretionary gifts but are linked to Blanket Mine’s financial performance, a framework designed to provide predictability and allow the Trust to plan and execute long-term development projects.

The US$1.8 million payment follows a significant increase in dividends to the GCSOT in recent years, reflecting Blanket Mine’s strong operational performance. In 2025 alone, the Trust received US$5.5 million from the Caledonia Group, a sharp rise from US$1.4 million the previous year.

Caledonia’s latest Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report shows the group has contributed approximately US$250 million to the Zimbabwean economy over the past nine years through employment, local procurement, taxes, royalties, and statutory payments. The company spent US$31.9 million on local suppliers in 2025, nearly doubling its local procurement from US$16.5 million in 2024.

From Dividends to Tangible Development

The Gwanda Community Share Ownership Trust, chaired by Chief Mathema, has channelled these funds into an array of projects that have transformed the district, delivering visible improvements in service delivery and economic activity.

Among the most impactful interventions has been the rehabilitation of Gungwe Dam, a US$300,000-plus project that now provides water to more than 3,000 households in drought-prone Gwanda South. The project has enabled the revival of irrigation schemes, fish farming, horticulture projects, and agricultural production.

In education, the Trust has constructed and equipped Advanced Level science laboratories at five secondary schools, built classroom blocks at five schools, supplied furniture, and sponsored university and teacher-training students. In health, it has constructed clinics and renovated health facilities.

The Trust has also adopted a business-oriented approach in recent years, diversifying into income-generating projects such as pen fattening, microfinance, property investment, and borehole drilling to supplement revenue from mining. Speaking on the strategic direction, Coster Nkala, Chief Executive Officer of the GCSOT, stated that the dividend comes at a perfect time, as the Trust has just developed its new five-year strategic plan, which contains a number of social and enterprise development projects that require capital.

An Industry Benchmark

Caledonia operates one of Zimbabwe’s most transparent and sustained models of community benefit-sharing. Beyond the Community Trust, employees hold a separate 10% stake through the Employee Trust, which reached a milestone in 2025 with the final repayment of the loan used to acquire its shareholding. A February 2026 dividend paid to employees based on Blanket Mine’s 2025 performance translated to approximately US$600 per beneficiary.

This stands in contrast to the experience of many Community Share Ownership Trusts established under the 2013 legal framework, which have faced operational setbacks, including poor governance and mismanagement. The Government recently announced plans to reform the CSOT model to improve oversight and transparency. The Gwanda Trust’s success offers a case study in how the model can work when properly governed and funded.

ESG at the Core

The Caledonia Group believes that communities hosting mining operations should share in the economic benefits generated by those operations. The payment reflects the group’s ongoing commitment to responsible mining and strong ESG performance.

Mark Learmonth, Chief Executive Officer of Caledonia Mining Corporation, has previously said that “long-term alignment is strongest where employees and communities each hold a genuine stake in the business.”

With Blanket Mine maintaining its 2026 production guidance of 72,000 to 76,500 ounces and the company advancing its multi-asset growth strategy with the Bilboes project, the foundations for continued community benefit appear set to strengthen in the years ahead.

The United States is encouraging American companies to invest in Zimbabwe’s lithium sector as Washington seeks to diversify critical mineral supply chains that are currently dominated by China, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Ryan Chigoche

The push comes as major economies compete for access to battery metals essential for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. Zimbabwe, which holds one of Africa’s largest hard-rock lithium reserves, has attracted billions of dollars in investment over the past three years, largely from Chinese-backed companies, including Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Sinomine Resource Group.

The U.S. Embassy in Harare said it sees potential for American participation across the mining value chain, from extraction to downstream battery materials manufacturing.

In responses to Mining Zimbabwe, the embassy emphasized that any investment would depend on commercially viable projects and a supportive regulatory environment.

“The United States recognizes Zimbabwe’s significant lithium and broader critical minerals endowment,” the embassy said. “We are eager to work with Zimbabwe in a way that ensures the Zimbabwean people benefit directly from their country’s natural resources.”

The interest aligns with a broader U.S. strategy to reduce reliance on concentrated supply chains. The Biden administration has earmarked US$300 million to acquire battery-grade lithium carbonate for the National Defense Stockpile, underscoring the strategic importance of securing domestic supplies of the mineral.

For Zimbabwe, the overture represents an opportunity to diversify its investor base in a sector that has become heavily reliant on Chinese capital. American participation could also support the government’s ambitions to develop downstream processing industries rather than exporting raw ore.

However, attracting U.S. investment will require more than mineral wealth. The embassy identified several conditions for long-term American commitments, including bankable projects, strong property rights protections, enforceable dispute resolution mechanisms, and reduced administrative barriers.

“The most important factors are the broader investment-enabling conditions, including well-structured, bankable projects; strong protection of property rights; credible and enforceable dispute resolution mechanisms; and reduced administrative barriers to doing business,” the embassy said.

Washington has indicated that engagement would be driven through private-sector participation rather than direct government investment. American businesses are exploring offtake agreements and potential joint ventures with Zimbabwean partners, according to the embassy.

“We support U.S. businesses exploring investment opportunities and offtake agreements in Zimbabwe’s critical minerals sector and will continue to facilitate connections between interested U.S. companies and Zimbabwean participants in the minerals sector,” it said.

Zimbabwe’s lithium sector has expanded rapidly since 2021, with Chinese companies investing in multiple mines and processing plants. The country produced about 1,200 metric tons of lithium in 2023, according to government figures, and has set a target of supplying 20% of global lithium demand by 2030.

However, the sector faces persistent challenges, including policy uncertainty, infrastructure constraints, and concerns over regulatory consistency. The government has imposed export bans on raw lithium ore to encourage domestic processing, a move that has drawn both praise and criticism from industry observers.

Whether U.S. companies will enter a market where Chinese firms have already established a strong foothold remains an open question. For now, Zimbabwe’s success in attracting American capital will hinge on its ability to offer the policy certainty and investment protections that global investors demand.

• Namib Minerals Charts Five-Step Pathway to Redwing Restart as DFS Technical Programme Secures Full Funding

Nasdaq-listed Namib Minerals has laid out a defined five-step pathway and targeted milestone schedule for the restart of the historic Redwing Mine in Penhalonga while confirming that the technical programme of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) is now fully funded through to completion, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

The DFS, being conducted by WSP Global, comprises the SEC S-K 1300-compliant feasibility study for Redwing and is expected to conclude in early Q1 2027. The technical programme covers engineering, metallurgical, geotechnical, hydrological, environmental, and financial modelling workstreams, validating the technical and economic parameters of the restart.

The restart follows five sequential steps, with each step gating the next:

Step 1 – Dewatering: A staged pumping programme to safely access underground workings. It is underway and on track, with expected completion by Q4 2026.

Step 2 – DFS Technical Programme: Fully funded through to completion and expected to conclude in early Q1 2027.

Step 3 – Resource Definition and Bankability: An 8,750-metre surface exploration drilling programme advancing the DFS to full bankability. It will commence upon the close of the next funding stage and is expected to conclude in Q4 2027.

Step 4 – Construction: Mobilisation of staged restart capital and execution of the construction and development programme upon completion of the DFS and a positive restart decision.

Step 5 – Restart: Commissioning and a phased return to production at the redesigned operation.

Two parallel site workstreams are already underway as enablers: power infrastructure upgrades, targeting Q3 2026, and refurbishment of existing equipment, also targeting Q3 2026.

Creative Funding Structure Unlocks DFS Progress

The company has funded the DFS technical programme from internally generated cash flow to date. However, its wholly owned subsidiary, Bulawayo Mining Company, which owns and operates the producing How Mine, has now secured a US$5.0 million, 36-month non-dilutive term facility from Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited.

The facility, which finances capital works at How Mine, is expected to be serviced entirely from How Mine’s existing production revenue. With How Mine’s capital works financed on dedicated terms, the internally generated cash flow previously absorbed by those works has now been released and committed to funding the DFS technical programme through to completion.

Step 3: The Critical Gateway

The company regards Step 3 as a critical milestone. Its purpose is to assess whether Redwing’s mineral resource base, together with its significant strike extent and potential down-dip extensions, supports a redesign of the operation into a larger-scale, sustainable mining operation.

Step 3 workstreams include resource expansion and conversion drilling, geotechnical and metallurgical programmes, Front-End Engineering Design (FEED), capital and operating cost refinement, and environmental and permitting readiness.

The company continues to engage with strategic investors, lenders, and development finance institutions to secure funding for Step 3, consistent with its phased and systematic funding approach.

The asset currently hosts 1.18 million ounces of gold in measured and indicated resources and has historically produced roughly 650,000 ounces. The company has earmarked between US$300 million and US$400 million to revive the Redwing and Mazowe mines while expanding production at How Mine.

Redwing is expected to enter the execution phase with the pathway now defined, the DFS technical programme fully funded, and the milestone schedule published. The company will report progress against these milestones in each operational update.

Hwange Colliery Company Limited Holdings has commissioned its rehabilitated Coke Oven Battery at the Hwange Mining and Processing Company, marking the revival of coke production after operations ceased in 2014 and signalling a major shift towards value addition and beneficiation of Zimbabwe’s coal resources, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

The milestone represents a significant transformation in the company’s strategy—from mining and selling raw coal to processing it into higher-value metallurgical coke that supports steel manufacturing and industrial growth.

“Today marks a defining milestone in the reconstruction and transformation journey of Hwange Colliery Company Limited Holdings with the successful commissioning of the rehabilitated Coke Oven Battery at our strategic business unit, Hwange Mining and Processing Company,” HCCL Holdings said in a statement.

“This commissioning is more than the revival of a production facility; it is a bold statement of HCCL Holdings’ commitment to beneficiating Zimbabwe’s vast coal resources, transforming them into higher-value metallurgical coke that supports steel manufacturing, drives industrial growth, and creates greater economic value.”

The project directly advances the aspirations of Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) by promoting value addition and beneficiation, strengthening domestic industrial capacity, reducing reliance on imports, enhancing export potential, and contributing to sustainable job creation.

From US$8 Million Project to Operational Facility

The coke oven battery, refurbished at a cost of approximately US$8 million, was 95 per cent complete by August 2025, with pre-heating tests beginning later that month. The battery needs to operate at temperatures of about 1,200 degrees Celsius, requiring 65 to 90 days to build up the necessary heat before coal can be introduced.

The plant is expected to produce 18,000 tonnes of metallurgical coke per month, bolstering cash flow, profits, and market competitiveness for HCCL while reinforcing Zimbabwe’s energy and steel industries.

Multi-Stream Revenue Generation

HCCL Administrator Munashe Shava previously highlighted that the project would revolutionise operations, moving the company beyond mere coal mining into high-value processing.

“What we are doing, as we already alluded to, is we are now not just mining coal and selling coal products. We are now producing coke,” Shava said in August 2025.

“We are now value-adding into coke, and not only that, we are also going to be processing by-products, tar into bitumen. We are also going to do gas recovery, and we are also going to do what we call further processing to get carbon black, which is a high-value product. So our revenue generation is now going to be multi-streamed, and we are excited about that.”

Supporting Underground Mining Expansion

The coke oven battery is directly supported by a US$60 million investment in HCCL’s underground coal mining project, a joint venture with China’s Zhongjin Investments designed to unlock the underground potential of Zimbabwe’s oldest colliery operation.

Two shafts have been drilled, each a kilometre deep at an inclination of 12 degrees. The company is already producing 600,000 tonnes per annum, with plans to increase production to 2.5 million tonnes next year and 3 million tonnes the following year.

The joint venture is expected to ultimately produce 1.8 million tonnes of coke per annum.

By-Products to Power 420MW Station

In an integrated approach, coal from the underground mine will be washed and delivered to the coke ovens. The gases produced during coking will be used to fire a power station with a combined generation capacity of 420 megawatts.

The project is expected to create numerous direct and indirect jobs, stimulate economic activity in the Hwange area, and strengthen Zimbabwe’s industrial value chain by reducing import dependency and increasing domestic beneficiation of coal resources.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga previously described HCCL as a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s economic development, noting that the pace of recovery has been “truly remarkable.”

The commissioning marks a significant step in HCCL’s reconstruction journey, transforming the company from mining coal to creating value, from reconstruction to transformation, and from potential to production.

As Zimbabwe pushes for greater domestic beneficiation of its natural resources under NDS2, HCCL’s revived Coke Oven Battery stands as a tangible demonstration of what is possible when strategic investment meets national development aspirations.

For a company that once faced an uncertain future, the commissioning is more than a production milestone—it is a declaration that HCCL is back, and it is here to stay.