Mining ZimbabweLatest Mining News, Policy and Industry Updates

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.

The Deputy Director of the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation (ZELO), Shamiso Mtisi, has said investment and sustainable development in the mining sector are inseparable “twins” that must work together for the benefit of the economy, communities, and the environment, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Speaking at the Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba (ZAMI), Mtisi said while mining companies often showcase their corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects like building schools, it is crucial to create platforms for communities to voice their concerns over environmental degradation and pollution.

“Definitely, mining companies will be able to share their corporate social responsibility activities and programmes. But at the same time, communities will also share some of their experiences when it comes to some of the areas where there is need to improve,” Mtisi said.

“When it comes to environmental degradation, pollution of rivers and also issues to do with how mining companies can plough back into the communities… that’s quite important. So those discussions will definitely help us in shaping different policies and laws in the country.”

He revealed that ZELO has been working closely with the Ministry of Mines to refine the long-awaited Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill. The ZAMI platform, he said, is designed to help investors understand the expectations of communities for responsible investment.

“Zimbabwe is definitely in need of responsible investments and there is need for all stakeholders to advance responsible investments discussions in the country,” Mtisi stated, endorsing the government’s “Zimbabwe is open for business” mantra while stressing the need for sustainability.

Addressing the link between profitability and responsibility, Mtisi argued that they are not mutually exclusive.

“If you mine sustainably, you are likely to also generate good profits, you will also be improving the lives of people, you will also be protecting the environment as a miner. So I take investments, sustainable development as twins, things that move together,” he said.

With many new businesses entering the country, Mtisi emphasised the urgency of encouraging responsible and sustainable practices in the mining sector.

On the perennial issue of illegal mining, Mtisi called for a nuanced approach, suggesting a move towards formalisation. He proposed categorising artisanal miners and providing them with the necessary support to operate within the law.

“For us as an organisation, formalisation of artisanal mining is very, very key… through categorising different levels of payments or certificates that can be given to individuals or cooperatives,” he said.

“Then the other thing is to provide the artisanal miners or small-scale miners with equipment, finance, and other supportive infrastructure… For us, we believe that it’s important for our people to mine, and mine responsibly, whether as individuals, as cooperatives, but also generating income and creating jobs for themselves. That’s quite important, but it has all to be done responsibly.”

The Zimbabwe Alternative Mining Indaba (ZAMI) has solidified its role as a critical national platform for inspiring change and fostering dialogue between the government, mining investors, and communities, with top officials calling for sustainable and inclusive management of the country’s mineral wealth, Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development Dr Polite Kambamura said.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

Speaking during the ZAMI 14th Edition this week, Dr Kambamura emphasised that mineral extraction must look beyond immediate profit to ensure intergenerational equity.

“My view today is that when people are extracting from minerals, let it go beyond the extraction, but let’s look at sustainability. How will future generations benefit from what is happening today?” he said.

He positioned the global just energy transition, driven by demand for minerals like lithium and platinum group metals (PGMs), as a monumental opportunity for Zimbabwe, but only if managed correctly.

“This will provide employment to our people, it will provide a cleaner source of energy… It should not benefit only the investors, but our people, the owners of the minerals, the owners of the land should also benefit,” Kambamura stated, adding that everyone must be included in both upstream and downstream industries.

The Deputy Minister defended the government’s record, citing national peace and ongoing infrastructure projects as evidence of proper mineral resource management.

“When you see roads being constructed, hospitals being built, that money is coming from the minerals… So if properly managed, our people can benefit from their mineral resources. But if mismanaged, we see that there will be challenges,” he warned.

His comments dovetailed with those of the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation (ZELO) Deputy Director, Shamiso Mtisi, who earlier underscored that investment and sustainable development are inseparable “twins.” Mtisi argued that platforms like ZAMI are essential for shaping policy, allowing communities to voice concerns over environmental degradation and pollution directly to lawmakers and investors.

“Those discussions will definitely help us in shaping different policies and laws in the country,” Mtisi said, revealing that ZELO is actively working with the Ministry of Mines to refine the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill.

Both speakers agreed on the necessity of formalising the artisanal mining sector. While Mtisi detailed the need for providing “equipment, finance, and other supportive infrastructure” to small-scale miners, Kambamura highlighted the government’s commitment to collaboration.

“As a government, we stand ready to work with ZELO, that’s why I’m here today, to hear issues coming from the organisation, to hear issues coming from the people, to engage people,” Kambamura said, acknowledging that resolving complex issues is “a process, not an event” that often requires a whole-of-government approach.

The consensus from ZAMI 2025 is clear: for Zimbabwe to truly benefit from its mineral endowment, a collaborative, sustainable, and inclusive path is not just ideal—it is imperative. The platform continues to be a vital engine for inspiring the change needed to achieve that goal.

Zimbabwe is embarking on a transformative journey to redefine its mining sector, with the new Mines and Minerals Bill Amendment placing public consultation, sustainability, and global best practices at its core, Mining Zimbabwe can report.

By Rudairo Mapuranga

In a significant shift towards transparent lawmaking, the government has thrown the doors open for national dialogue, urging citizens, miners, and investors to help shape a law that will govern the country’s most valuable natural resources for generations to come.

Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Eng Polite Kambamura, has positioned the soon-to-come consultation process as a testament to the government’s commitment to inclusivity.

“The fact that the Mines and Minerals Bill Amendment is going through public consultation shows a government that is ready to engage its citizens and hear their comments… it’s not being done behind closed doors. It’s a show of transparency, a readiness for inclusivity, leaving no one behind,” Eng Kambamura stated.

This open-door policy marks a deliberate move away from past criticisms of opaque decision-making. The Deputy Minister explicitly called for stakeholders to present their views on critical issues, including artisanal mining formalisation, community beneficiation, and human rights safeguards.

This inclusive approach, he argued, is essential to align the law with “changing markets, growth dynamics, and the need to be in sync with regional and international standards.”

Beyond domestic governance, the Bill is intricately linked to Zimbabwe’s global economic positioning. Eng Kambamura highlighted that a modern, transparent legal framework is key to attracting quality investment.

“It was a very good experience to market our country as a friendly and responsible mining destination,” he noted, underscoring that global investors increasingly prioritise environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards alongside mineral potential.

A central pillar of the proposed amendment is the imperative of sustainable development. The Deputy Minister defined the Bill’s philosophy clearly: “Development that meets the needs of the current generation, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs — that is sustainability.”

This principle seeks to ensure that mineral extraction contributes to long-term national prosperity rather than short-term exploitation.

Paving the Way for a National Mining Policy

In a pivotal revelation, Eng Kambamura indicated that the passage of this Bill would create the foundation for Zimbabwe’s first comprehensive national mining policy.

“I think the Bill will open up a way for the Ministry to draft a mining policy first. And all these other issues will now fall under the mining policy,” he said.

This move promises to provide a cohesive, long-term strategy for the sector, encompassing value addition, local content, and community development.

Despite the open forum, the Deputy Minister cautioned against public apathy, revealing that some are already treating the draft as a finished product.

“Some people are already taking it as if it were closed doors… That’s not the position. We’re still hoping for engagement,” he explained, issuing a direct call for robust participation to ensure the final law is reflective of the nation’s aspirations.

The message is clear: the future of Zimbabwe’s mining sector is being written now, and every voice has a role in shaping it.