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In the hills and terrains of Mazowe, where the ground once echoed with the sound of drills, progress, and promise, a chilling silence now hangs — interrupted only by the occasional scream, the crash of a collapsing shaft, or the muted mourning of families preparing yet another funeral.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

This is not fiction. This is Mazowe. A place once hailed as a beacon of gold mining potential, now reduced to a graveyard of broken laws, shattered families, and abandoned safety protocols. It is no longer news when someone dies at Mazowe Mine. It is expected. It is routine. It is normalised and that is a tragedy.

On a cold winter night recently, two men seeking nothing more than warmth sat by a fire. An explosion ripped through the silence, leaving one dead on the spot and another fatally wounded. Before the nation could process that loss, another shaft at Mazowe’s Starlake area claimed six more lives in a horrific collapse. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the fatalities. Yet even this, a mass casualty event, has not stirred the level of urgency one would expect in a civilised nation.

Why are we silent when the numbers grow louder?

A Culture of Death

The latest deaths at Starlake, a shaft at Mazowe Mine, are not isolated incidents. They follow a deadly pattern that has engulfed the mine. Week in, week out, miners perish. And yet, we continue as if nothing is wrong. Six miners dead here. Three crushed there. Bodies retrieved by fellow miners with bare hands, laid out under makeshift tarpaulins. These are not just statistics. They were sons, fathers, brothers. And their only crime was trying to survive.

Redwing Mine shut down in 2024 following a similar tragedy, prompting a government stop order. Mazowe, a mine of equal national significance, received a similar directive around the same time. But at both Redwing and Mazowe, action did not come. One can only wonder: why the double standard in Zimbabwe?

Lawlessness Reigns

Mazowe Mine is no longer controlled by its rightful owners. The mine has been overtaken by chaos. Over 10,000 artisanal miners, operating illegally, have taken control of its shafts and its destiny. They mine day and night without oversight, blasting rock with questionable explosives, navigating unsafe tunnels with no protective gear, no ventilation, no engineering support. These are not miners. These are desperate citizens, pushed to the brink by an economy that has failed them and a government that refuses to act.

Despite a stop order from the Ministry of Mines in March 2024, mining at Mazowe never stopped — not for a day. Police who ought to enforce the order claim they need “authorisation” to act. It has become so commonplace that journalists have stopped reporting every incident. The deaths are no longer shocking. They are routine.

Namib Minerals and the Ghost of Investment

Namib Minerals, the rightful owners of Mazowe Mine, have announced a staggering US$300 million investment plan aimed at modernising the mine, reviving underground operations, creating jobs, and increasing gold production.

But lawlessness has made the mine inaccessible. Namib cannot even begin exploration because the very ground they own is held hostage by people with picks, shovels, and guns. The company has one court-sanctioned agreement with a contractor that expired in 2023. Since then, several other entities have illegally claimed rights to operate there. Some have even filed court applications against Namib despite having no legal cooperation agreements.

The situation is absurd: the only entity with a legitimate stake in the mine cannot access its property, while those with no documentation dig freely as they chase gold.

Where Is the Government?

It is the duty of the government to enforce mining regulations. The Ministry of Mines has every right to shut down illegal operations, and the police have every legal basis to evict those trespassing on Mazowe Mine property. Yet nothing is being done. This is not a matter of policy gaps. This is a failure of will.

If 80 kilograms of gold are being extracted illegally every month, as some insiders allege, then that gold is being smuggled, depriving the nation of revenue.

The Makorokoza Dilemma

We must also confront the psychology of the artisanal miners — the makorokoza. These are not evil people. They are often victims of circumstance. But desperation cannot justify lawlessness. What is unfolding at Mazowe is not informal mining. It is anarchic extraction. There is no accountability. No records. No responsibility. If a miner dies, no one answers. No compensation. No justice.

Artisanal mining must be formalised, regulated, and Policed. Until then, Mazowe will remain an undesirable zone masquerading as a gold field.

The Legacy at Risk

Mazowe Mining Company is no stranger to Zimbabwe’s mining legacy. Once a cornerstone of the nation’s gold production, it has been reduced to a so so mine, its legacy tarnished by neglect and encroachment by unregulated actors. In January 2024, Namib announced its intention to resume underground operations. But lawlessness has halted every step of progress. Equipment has been stolen, infrastructure vandalised, and safety completely abandoned.

We must ask: how can a country that speaks of a US$40 billion mining economy allow one of its flagship mines to become a graveyard?

Solutions We Cannot Delay

It is not enough to mourn. Zimbabwe must act.

1. Immediate Eviction: The Ministry of Mines, in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, must immediately enforce the stop order issued in 2024. All illegal mining operations at Mazowe must cease.

2. Secure the Mine: Deploy security forces to guard strategic shafts and secure assets belonging to Namib Minerals.

3. Fast-Track Investment Approval: Remove bureaucratic bottlenecks and offer Namib full government backing to commence its US$300 million investment.

4. Artisanal Mining Zones: Create designated areas for artisanal miners, with government-supervised safety protocols.

5. Zero Harm Policy: Implement an ESG framework that places human life above profit. No shaft should be operational without certified safety infrastructure.

6. National Inquiry: Set up a parliamentary inquiry into fatalities at Mazowe Mine. Let every name of the deceased be read into the record.

The Time for Silence Has Passed

This is not just about Mazowe. This is about our national conscience. Every week, another funeral procession leaves the gates of Mazowe. Every week, a mother weeps, a child is orphaned, and a dream is buried. And still, the nation watches.

Enough.

We do not need another death to know that Mazowe Mine is bleeding. We need courage. We need will. We need leadership.

The graveyard is full. It is time to bring the mine back to life — the right way.

Premier African Minerals has registered significant early gains at its Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project, with flotation test runs delivering a concentrate grade exceeding 5%—a notable benchmark in the lithium production space, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

After the much-anticipated restart of the plant on July 6, 2025, following the installation of critical cleaner cell inserts in the flotation section, Premier has announced that the initial test run has yielded encouraging results, especially in terms of grade performance. However, the journey to optimisation is still underway, as Premier now turns focus toward recovery improvement and establishing a steady-state operation.

In a statement released on Friday, the company confirmed that the Zulu plant, located near Fort Rixon in Matabeleland South, achieved stability toward the end of the initial testing phase—a critical milestone after an extended period of downtime. The OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) inserts have demonstrated that they effectively reduce concentrate retention time in the cleaner section—an issue flagged during previous operations.

“During this test run, there were encouraging signs, including an observed improvement in concentrate grade with results exceeding the target grade of 5% in the final cleaner cell prior to being pumped to the filter press (bagging plant),” the company said.

Despite the success in achieving high-grade concentrate, recoveries remain below the desired threshold. Excess lithium oxide (Li₂O) continues to show up in tailings, prompting the company to recirculate the material back into the flotation circuit in hopes of extracting more value.

Premier’s priority, as it stands, is achieving a commercially saleable grade—which appears within reach—before shifting focus to the more technical challenge of recovery rate optimisation.

To that end, Premier announced that the initial test run has temporarily ceased, and full operational control of the plant will be handed over to the OEM starting the week of July 21, 2025. This new phase, dubbed the “OEM Test Run,” is designed to ensure a consistent, steady-state operation that will lay the foundation for enhanced recoveries and overall plant efficiency.

“As much as Premier is pleased with the initial progress to date, we were frustrated with the time needed to get the plant into a constant running state,” said Premier CEO George Roach. “Although, as reminded by our OEM, this is not a simple plant, and maintaining target operating parameters requires time and patience.”

Roach also praised the unwavering support Premier continues to receive from its team on the ground. “We remain deeply appreciative of the ongoing support we have from our contractors, staff, and shareholders. Civil construction for the alternative spodumene float section is now almost complete, which is planned to provide both a fallback option if needed and also the ability to expand Zulu’s existing process capacity of spodumene concentrate.”

This dual-float capability could not only mitigate operational risks but also position Zulu as a scalable lithium supply node at a time when global markets are demanding higher outputs from diversified sources.

The Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project remains a flagship operation within Premier African Minerals’ diversified portfolio, which spans tungsten, lithium, rare earth elements, and gold across Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The Zulu site has been central to Premier’s lithium ambitions, and while challenges have plagued the operation—ranging from plant engineering issues to broader market pressures—this latest milestone signals a potential turning point.

The company’s strategy now hinges on the successful completion of the OEM Test Run. A steady-state operation would not only allow consistent concentrate production but also generate critical performance data that will inform further upgrades and downstream planning. If successful, this phase could finally set Zulu on course for sustained commercial production and improved investor confidence.

The broader lithium market, while currently volatile, continues to hold long-term promise with battery technology, electric vehicles, and renewable energy storage driving global demand. Premier’s ability to deliver a stable supply of battery-grade lithium from Zimbabwe could boost the country’s growing reputation as an attractive investment destination for energy minerals.

With Zimbabwe opening its doors wider to international capital and modernising its mining legislation, Premier’s progress at Zulu is a litmus test for the country’s readiness to deliver on its much-touted mining potential. The next few weeks at Zulu will be closely watched—not just by investors but also by the Zimbabwean government and global stakeholders in the green energy transition.

Caledonia Mining’s recent record gold production at its flagship Blanket Mine in Zimbabwe is the result of a deliberate strategic build-up combining a shift to a young, visible leadership model, cost discipline, and targeted growth initiatives.

By Ryan Chigoche

This was reviewed by CEO Mark Learmonth in a recent interview, conducted following the company’s announcement of a stellar 21,000-ounce output in the second quarter of 2025, pushing first-half production to nearly 39,000 ounces and prompting an upward revision of the full-year guidance.

Leadership on the Ground: A New Management Culture

A cornerstone of Caledonia’s improved performance has been a comprehensive management overhaul at Blanket.

In the interview, Learmonth explained that late last year, the company empowered a younger, more dynamic leadership team, embracing what he calls “visible leadership” or “management by walking around.”

“Late last year, we had a very comprehensive change in management at Blanket, as a result of which we’ve introduced—or we’ve allowed—a younger group of management to step up. You can use whatever fancy word you like, sort of visible leadership or management by walking around.

“But the upshot is that the new management team spends much more time underground, seeing what’s going on, seeing and being seen. And it’s just a fact of life that as they’re down there, as they’re underground, people work more productively and more is done.

“I think the other thing that we’ve become aware of as well is that as the management team spends more time underground, they’re picking up issues that need to be addressed much earlier. And so they get addressed much more quickly.”

This hands-on leadership style has boosted productivity and improved operational responsiveness, helping to unlock efficiencies in the complex, deep-level mine.

Life Beyond 10 Years: Blanket’s Long-Term Potential

Caledonia is also investing heavily in Blanket’s long-term sustainability. The mine has a proven reserve life of at least 10 years, with additional potential from broader measured, indicated, and inferred resources.

“We’re actually replacing more than we’re exploiting,” Learmonth noted in the interview.

While he remains cautious about overstating longevity, citing limited accounting value in extending mine life too far, he pointed to ongoing investments to improve underground infrastructure, ventilation, and electricity reliability.

Significantly, exploration activities have expanded slightly beyond the core mine footprint, targeting mineralised zones a few hundred metres east, north, and south of current operations.

Learmonth expressed optimism about this initiative: “We hope to come back by year-end with results that could add a new dimension to the operation.”

This development suggests Blanket’s productive horizon could extend further than previously anticipated.

Cost Focus and Growth Outlook

With production stabilised, Caledonia is now focusing on optimising costs.

Learmonth explained that while costs are under control, there remains scope for improvement in electricity use, labour deployment, and consumables—key cost drivers in a complex underground operation with over 2,000 employees.

“Cost control here can’t be rushed; it requires thoughtful, measured steps,” he said, emphasising the importance of balancing efficiency with safety and operational integrity.

Meanwhile, the company is progressing feasibility studies at the Bilboes gold project.

According to Learmonth, Caledonia is working to commercialise Bilboes responsibly, balancing growth ambitions with financial discipline to minimise equity dilution and risk.

Together, these elements—proactive management culture, strategic exploration, and disciplined cost control—form the foundation of Caledonia’s confident outlook for 2025 and beyond.

As Learmonth’s insights reveal, the company is not resting on recent production milestones but is actively positioning Blanket Mine—and Caledonia as a whole—for sustained success in Zimbabwe’s competitive gold sector.

Zimbabwe is preparing to enter a new era of mineral value addition, with Kuvimba Mining House set to break ground on a US$270 million lithium concentrator at its Sandawana Mine in the third quarter of 2025, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Kuvimba CEO Trevor Barnard confirmed the plan, saying the concentrator will handle 600,000 tonnes of ore annually, with commissioning expected by early 2027.

“Our forecast is that lithium prices will recover sometime in the year 2027, right at a point in time when we expect the concentrator plant to be in production,” he said.

The confidence reflects a strategic gamble. With global lithium prices having dropped nearly 90% over the past two years amid oversupply, Barnard’s timing hinges on a market rebound driven by rising electric vehicle demand and supply constraints in the years ahead.

Zimbabwe has pledged to ban exports of lithium concentrates from 2027, and Sandawana’s concentrator represents a critical step toward that goal. Ballasting this strategy is the construction model: a build-operate-transfer (BOT) arrangement with Chinese technical partners who will build and run the plant for up to five years before transferring full ownership to Zimbabwe.

“We’re still working on finalising a few agreements and making sure that our partners have all the industry conditions necessary for them to begin construction. We’re looking to break ground in the third quarter,” Barnard said.

Despite subdued lithium prices, analysts believe the market is set to stabilise as EV demand heats up and supply growth slows. It is within this projected upswing that Barnard plans to bring the Sandawana concentrator online, setting Zimbabwe up to capture its share of the clean energy transition.

In the meantime, Kuvimba has begun stockpiling ore at Sandawana and is toll-processing part of it at Tsingshan Holding’s plant in Gwanda, ensuring no disruptions before full-scale operation begins.

Zimbabwe has attracted over US$3 billion in lithium investments since 2021, with major players like Huayou Cobalt, Sinomine, and Chengxin Lithium building downstream facilities. The Sandawana concentrator—fully owned by Kuvimba under a BOT framework—cements the government’s emphasis on value retention and strategic control.

As construction draws near, questions remain: Will the global market recover on schedule? Will the concentrator meet its targets? And—critically—can Zimbabwe leverage policy clarity and stable financing to make Sandawana a flagship project in its industrial future?

If all goes to plan, Zimbabwe’s investment in Sandawana will not just bring lithium processing onto national soil—it will reshape the country’s role in the global battery minerals economy.