In an effort to ensure artisanal and small-scale miners are integrated into the formal economy rather than treated as illegal intruders, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of Mutapa Gold Resources, Patrick Maseva-Shayawabaya, on Thursday declared that the era of using drones to chase miners away from gold sites is over, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of 300 artisanal miners at Magandi Park in Chegutu on 30 April 2026, Maseva-Shayawabaya said the certification of the first cohort, part of a programme targeting 1,500 miners, was “not just a graduation ceremony; it is a statement of intent that Zimbabwe can grow its gold production responsibly, safely, and inclusively while protecting the environment and improving livelihoods in our communities.”
The event marked a major milestone in Mutapa Gold Resources’ drive to formalise the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector, which now contributes nearly 75% of Zimbabwe’s gold output.
Maseva-Shayawabaya, who officially takes over the reins from outgoing CEO Trevor Barnard on Friday (1 May), used his first major public address to outline a fundamental shift in how large-scale miners relate to ASMs.
“Gone are the days when we used to have drones just to spot where the artisanal miners are so that we could chase them away,” he said. “We now see them as partners.”
The new CEO revealed that Mutapa Gold Resources is already replicating its Elvington artisanal mining model, a structured approach that supports miners to work legally, safely, and productively, at Jena Mines in the Midlands and at Phoenix Prince in Bindura.
“When we speak about formalisation of artisanal mining, we are not speaking about removing miners from the money chain,” he emphasised. “We are speaking about making them work safer, more profitably, more organised, and more sustainable.”
Mutapa Gold Resources is a leading gold-producing group owned by the Mutapa Investment Fund, Zimbabwe’s sovereign wealth fund, and was formerly Kuvimba Mining House before the fund restructured its mining assets portfolio.
The company operates across the country: Freda Rebecca and Shamva gold mines in Mashonaland Central, Jena Mines in the Midlands, and assets in the Kwekwe area. Combined, the three main operations employ just under 4,000 people and produce an average of 300 kilograms of gold per month.
The CEO detailed how the training programme, delivered in partnership with the Zimbabwe School of Mines, addresses real constraints in the ASM sector.
“It strengthens safety and occupational health practices to reduce accidents and loss of life. It improves technical capability, which enhances productivity. It builds environmental stewardship so that the environment is protected for future generations. It supports financial formalisation so that miners can access banking and grow from subsistence to sustainable enterprises,” he said.
Maseva-Shayawabaya stressed that formalisation benefits all stakeholders: for government, compliance and orderly production; for communities, decent work and reduced conflict; for investors, predictable operations; and for miners, “a pathway to dignity, safety, skills, and long-term prosperity.”
“Our message is therefore simple,” Maseva-Shayawabaya said. “Formalisation of artisanal mining is not an event. It is a process that needs partnership.”
He committed Mutapa Gold Resources to continuing work with government, local authorities, traditional leaders, the Zimbabwe School of Mines, financing and technical partners (including Magaya Mining School of Mines), and the miners themselves “to build a model that can be replicated in other districts.”
Addressing the 300 graduates, he said: “Congratulations on your success. You are ambassadors for responsible mining in your families, your communities, and to the rest of Zimbabwe.”
