MUTAPA Gold Resources has deployed a dedicated team of in-house geologists, surveyors, and mining engineers to work directly with artisanal miners on the ground, as the State-backed gold producer moves to professionalise a sector that now accounts for nearly 75 percent of national gold output, the company’s General Manager has revealed.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Speaking at the Chamber of Mines Annual Conference Gold Symposium, Mutapa Gold Resources General Manager responsible for Contract Mining, Tirivashe Vere, outlined the company’s comprehensive strategy to transform artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) from makeshift operations into professionally run enterprises.
“The biggest challenge is what we call the small-scale miners or artisanal miners. Because of the scale, it is very difficult for them to mimic a proper mine. So the methods that are applied and the practice become artisanal in nature,” Vere said.
Vere said Mutapa Gold has built in-house skills to support its formalisation model, with a team of professionals now embedded in artisanal mining areas across the country.
“We have got geologists, surveyors, and mining engineers going into those workspaces, querying what they’re doing,” he said.
The company has also brought in advanced technology, including ground-penetrating radar, to assess underground voids in areas that cannot be physically reached.
“We’ve brought in skilled people to assess where the size increases and scale increases, to sort of assess and say this is suitable and it is safe to use,” Vere said.
Training programme bearing fruit
Mutapa Gold has partnered with the Zimbabwe School of Mines to roll out a nationwide training and formalisation programme targeting more than 1,500 artisanal and small-scale miners. The first cohort of 300 miners has already graduated with certificates in safe mining techniques, environmental stewardship, mining legislation, financial literacy, and efficient ore processing.
“The programme will combine classroom learning with practical field training while also adopting a ‘train-the-trainer’ approach to expand national reach,” Vere said at the launch.
He stressed that the long-term goal is not merely to certify miners but to transform how they operate.
“The long-term goal is to help artisanal miners transition into professionally run and sustainable mining operations capable of adapting to different mining environments and technologies,” Vere added.
Organised work setups
Beyond training, Vere said Mutapa Gold has conducted mini-assessments of artisanal mining areas, including magnetic surveys and induced polarisation (IP) surveys, to guide miners into productive zones.
“We sort of lead them into areas where we want them to work,” he said.
The company has also facilitated organised work setups, encouraging miners to formalise into companies that Mutapa Gold can engage with through proper due diligence.
“We don’t really chase, but we say organise yourselves so that you can formalise the company that we can talk to, and we do due diligence on the people that we’re going to work with,” Vere said.
Historic mines brought back to life
Vere cited numerous historic mines that have been revived using this model, including Globe and Phoenix, Primrose Mine, Tiger Reef, and Elvington Mine in Kwekwe, as well as operations in Gweru, Plumtree, and the Silobela area.
“In Silobela, we have over 50,000 hectares of claims that we can bring into production quickly,” he said.
Mutapa Gold Resources controls approximately 52,000 hectares of mining claims and leases across Zimbabwe, directly employs 2,800 workers, and supports another 1,300 jobs through contractors. The company operates mines at Freda Rebecca, Shamva, Jena, Elvington, and Kwekwe.
Business case for formalisation
The formalisation drive comes as artisanal miners now contribute nearly 75 percent of Zimbabwe’s national gold output. In 2025, ASM gold deliveries jumped 46.9 percent to 34,875 kilogrammes.
Vere made it clear that Mutapa Gold’s support for artisanal miners is not charity but sound business.
“It’s not a charity for us. It’s a business for us. We benefit from the mining. The artisanal miners also benefit,” he said.
Beyond training, Mutapa Gold is developing a dedicated artisanal mining cost model, engaging a team of accountants, mining engineers, and metallurgists to design a financial framework that small-scale miners can use to improve operational efficiency and profitability.
The company has also achieved certification in ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety) and ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management), underlining its commitment to responsible mining.
